Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said police took two suspects into custody and called the shooting 'an act of horrific violence.' The shooting took place near the city's iconic Space Needle.Show Caption
Police in Seattle are investigating a mass shooting near the city's iconic Space Needle that left two people dead and five others injuried, including a toddler.The police took two suspects into custody following the shooting, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said in a statement."What happened at the Seattle Center today was an act of horrific violence," Wilson said. "Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire. "No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city," she said.The shooting took place at the Seattle Center, a 74-acre entertainment and cultural complex just northwest of downtown Seattle, that hosted the Bite of Seattle food festival this weekend.Founded in 1982, Bite of Seattle has been a summer tradition in the Northwest for over 40 years and featured over 130 food and beverage vendors, along with live cooking demos, live music and other activities.The Seattle Fire Department told USA TODAY the shooting took place about 6 p.m. PT and, despite lifesaving efforts, two people were pronounced dead at the scene.Four others were taken to a hospital to be treated for conditions ranging from serious to stable, firefighters said, and another person who suffered minor injuries, a 40-year-old woman, declined to be transported for medical treatment.The other victims include a 56-year-old woman, a 39-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 2-year-old boy. The fire department said the ages of those injured were approximate and could change with more information.USA TODAY reached out to police for more information."We know that many people who were not physically injured will carry what they experienced today for a long time," Wilson said. "That includes witnesses, workers, first responders, and everyone waiting to learn whether someone they love is safe."'It was just pure chaos'Estan Wakonabo, 35, told The Seattle Times he was at Bite of Seattle with his girlfriend when the gunshots rang out."It was just pure chaos," Wakonabo said, telling the outlet he watched people trample over one another during the melee and later saw several gunshot victims on the ground.Later in the evening, in a post on X, Gov. Bob Ferguson wrote the Washington State Patrol SWAT team was on the way to assist, at the request of Seattle police."My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe," Ferguson wrote.U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, in a post on X, called the shooting "senseless violence" and said local and state leaders, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Ferguson, were continuing to monitor the fluid situation."We are grateful to law enforcement at SPD and first responders who are at the scene and working hard," Jayapal wrote. "Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this senseless violence. We will provide updates as we have additional information."Multiple other local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, also responded to the scene."Gun violence changes families forever. Its trauma reaches far beyond the people struck by bullets. In the days ahead, we will establish what happened and be transparent with the public about what we have learned," Wilson said. "Tonight, our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them." "Seattle grieves with you, and we will stand with you in the difficult days ahead," she said.Contributing: Zachary Fletcher with the Kitsap Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network.Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
