SEATTLE — A deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival left three people dead and four others injured, including a 2-year-old child, after gunfire erupted near the Space Needle on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

The shooting occurred at Seattle Center while thousands of visitors were attending the popular annual food festival. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as people fled the area, sought shelter inside nearby buildings and attempted to locate family members.

Seattle police believe several people exchanged gunfire outside the Seattle Center Armory. Investigators have identified at least three suspected shooters and are examining whether the violence was connected to a dispute between rival groups or gangs.

Three Victims Identified

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the three people killed as:

• Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44
• Ashley Whitehead, 56
• Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19

Semo was identified by investigators as one of the suspected shooters. Two victims died at the scene, while another died after being transported to Harborview Medical Center. Four additional victims were wounded, including a toddler, and were reported to be in stable condition.

Villalba was remembered by relatives as a devoted father of three, while Whitehead’s family described her as an independent and free-spirited woman who had recently moved to Washington state.

Teenage Suspect Taken Into Custody

Police arrested a 15-year-old suspect following the Seattle shooting. The teenager was placed in juvenile detention and initially held in connection with alleged firearm and assault offenses.

Because the suspect is a minor, authorities have not publicly released his name. Prosecutors were reviewing evidence to determine what formal charges should be filed.

Investigators recovered at least two firearms from the scene. Police were continuing to search for at least one additional suspected shooter as detectives examined surveillance footage, witness statements and ballistic evidence.

Officials have not announced a definitive motive. However, authorities said the circumstances suggest that the shooting may have involved an exchange of gunfire between groups rather than an indiscriminate attack on festival visitors.

Shooting Sends Festival Visitors Running

The Bite of Seattle is one of the city’s best-known summer festivals and traditionally attracts hundreds of food vendors, performers and thousands of visitors.

Gunfire sent festivalgoers running from Seattle Center, with some hiding inside buildings and nearby businesses. One neighborhood resident reportedly sheltered more than a dozen people who fled the festival grounds.

The Seattle shooting renewed public concerns about youth violence and the presence of firearms at crowded public events. Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the attack and called for a sustained approach to preventing gun violence, particularly violence involving young people.

Seattle Police Chief Resigns After Communication Failures

The fallout from the shooting expanded on Thursday, July 30, when Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned amid criticism of the department’s public communication following the incident.

Although officers responded quickly and arrested a suspect at the scene, city officials faced criticism after the police department waited nearly five hours to provide a detailed public update. Officials also acknowledged that emergency notification systems were not used effectively during the response.

Barnes was attending a law-enforcement conference in Dallas when the shooting occurred. Questions about his absence, combined with conflicting information about the number of suspects, intensified scrutiny of the department’s leadership.

Mayor Wilson announced that Deputy Chief Andre Sayles would serve as interim police chief while the city begins the process of selecting permanent leadership.

Wilson said the city must restore confidence in police communication and strengthen its response to youth gun violence following one of Seattle’s deadliest recent public shootings.

Seattle Shooting Investigation Remains Active

The investigation into the Bite of Seattle shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are working to determine exactly how many people fired weapons, what led to the confrontation and whether other individuals should face criminal charges.

Authorities have asked anyone with photographs, cellphone recordings or other information from the festival to contact Seattle police.

The case is expected to remain under close scrutiny as city officials prepare for other large public events and address questions about security, emergency communication and gun violence prevention.