Shootings at Seattle food festival leave two dead, several injured

SEATTLE — A shooting during a food festival at an events complex near the Space Needle in Seattle on Sunday evening left two people dead and five others wounded, according to a city fire department spokesperson. The incident took place at the Seattle Center, which was hosting the Bite of Seattle food festival over the weekend.

The attack unfolded as attendees gathered for the long-running culinary event, which began in 1982 and draws approximately 350,000 visitors over three days. Police have urged the public to avoid the area as the investigation continues, though authorities have not yet released further details about a possible motive or suspect.

Harborview Medical Center spokesperson Susan Gregg confirmed that the facility admitted four victims, including a toddler, a 23-year-old man, and two adult women. One patient was listed in critical condition, she said.

Eyewitness Estan Wakonabo described the chaos that erupted when the shooting began. "People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling," Wakonabo recalled, adding that he initially mistook the sounds for something else. "Once I heard a 'pop, pop, pop,' that's when I knew it was a shooter," he said. After escorting his girlfriend to safety, Wakonabo said he returned to the scene and saw multiple victims on the ground.

Coverage comparison

Reports of the incident vary in their casualty figures. The Hindu, citing a hospital spokesperson, reported at least four people wounded, including a child, and noted that one patient was in critical condition. In contrast, The Guardian, citing a fire department spokesperson, stated that two people were killed and five others injured. Both outlets confirmed the shooting occurred during the Bite of Seattle food festival at the Seattle Center, near the Space Needle.

The conflicting numbers may reflect a rapidly evolving situation, but authorities have not yet clarified the discrepancy. The festival, a beloved Seattle tradition, has drawn large crowds annually for decades, making the violence particularly jarring for attendees and residents alike.

Key claims

  • Two people were killed and five others wounded, according to a city fire department spokesperson (The Guardian).
  • Four people, including a child, were wounded, according to a hospital spokesperson (The Hindu).
  • One patient is in critical condition (Harborview Medical Center via both outlets).
  • The shooting occurred at the Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival (both outlets).
  • The festival draws about 350,000 attendees over three days (The Guardian).