What had been a warm Sunday evening at one of Seattle’s most beloved summer traditions turned to chaos just after 6 p.m., when gunfire broke out at the Bite of Seattle festival, a three-day food and music event held annually at Seattle Center, steps from the Space Needle.

By the time the shooting stopped, three people were dead and four more were wounded, including a two-year-old boy shot in the arm. Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis said investigators believe two armed individuals fired at each other near the Seattle Center Armory, and that bystanders were caught in the crossfire.

A Chaotic Scene

Thousands of people were on the festival grounds when the shooting began. Witnesses described a burst of seven or eight rapid shots near the fountain area, followed by screaming and a stampede toward the exits. Some attendees said they jumped fences to get away; others took shelter inside nearby buildings, including the Seattle Children’s Museum, and waited for word that it was safe to come out.

Emergency dispatch audio obtained by news outlets captured a first responder requesting a small child’s tourniquet at the scene — a detail that underscored how young some of the victims were.

Two of the three people killed died at the scene. A third victim died after being taken to Harborview Medical Center. The Seattle Police Department said early Monday that the deceased were two men, ages 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman. Four other people were hospitalized: a young boy, a 23-year-old man, and a 39-year-old woman were listed in stable condition, while a fourth patient, a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries, declined to be taken to the hospital.

Response and Investigation

Police said one suspect, described only as a “young person,” surrendered at the scene and was taken into custody. A second person believed to be involved fled the area and remained at large as of Monday morning. Two firearms were recovered.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson activated the state SWAT team to assist Seattle police, and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene, though Seattle police are leading the investigation. In a statement following the shooting, Ferguson said his prayers were with the victims’ families and with the responders working to keep people safe.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson joined Assistant Chief Davis and other officials at a late-night news conference to share updates on the response and the search for the second suspect. Officers who were already working security at the festival were credited with confronting the shooter within seconds and helping treat the wounded before medics arrived.

A Beloved Event Interrupted

The Bite of Seattle has been a fixture of the city’s summer calendar since 1982, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors over its three-day run to sample food from more than 100 local vendors and enjoy live music at Seattle Center’s 74-acre campus. This year marked the festival’s 40th anniversary celebration, with organizers offering free admission to mark the occasion.

The shooting is one of hundreds of mass shootings recorded in the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot. For a city and a festival known for bringing neighbors together, Sunday’s violence left an unmistakable mark on what should have been a celebration.

Police have not released the identities of the two people believed to have opened fire, nor said whether they knew each other or what sparked the confrontation. The investigation remains active, and authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has video from the scene to come forward.

Harborview Medical Center said all of the patients it received were in stable condition as of Monday. Grief counselors and victim support resources have been made available to festivalgoers and community members affected by the shooting.

As Seattle police continue searching for the second suspect, the city is left processing a tragedy that struck without warning at a gathering meant to celebrate community — a reminder of how quickly an ordinary evening can turn into unimaginable loss.