At least four people, including a toddler, were wounded Sunday evening in a shooting near Seattle’s iconic Space Needle as thousands of people attended the annual Bite of Seattle food festival, authorities said.
Police responded to the shooting around 6 p.m. at the Seattle Center events complex and urged the public to avoid the area as officers secured the scene and launched an investigation.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Harborview Medical Center confirmed it received four victims from the shooting.
Hospital spokesperson Susan Gregg said those injured include a toddler, a 23-year-old man and two adult women.
One of the victims was reported to be in critical condition. Authorities have not released additional information about the other victims or the extent of their injuries.
Police had not announced any arrests or identified a suspect as of Sunday night.
Panic Erupts During Popular Festival
The shooting occurred while the Seattle Center was hosting the Bite of Seattle, one of the city’s largest annual events.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as festivalgoers scrambled for safety after gunfire erupted.
Estan Wakonabo said he and his girlfriend were waiting in line for a photo booth when the crowd suddenly surged.
“People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” Wakonabo said.
He said he realized what was happening after hearing multiple gunshots.
“Once I heard a ‘pop, pop, pop,’ that’s when I knew it was a shooter,” he said.
After helping his girlfriend reach safety, Wakonabo returned to the area and said he saw multiple victims lying on the ground.
Large Emergency Response
Numerous Seattle police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene as authorities evacuated portions of the Seattle Center.
Investigators remained at the complex Sunday evening collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Officials have not yet released information about what led to the shooting or whether the victims were specifically targeted.
Major Seattle Event
Founded in 1982, the annual event attracts approximately 350,000 visitors over three days and features dozens of food vendors, live entertainment and family activities, according to the festival’s organizers.
The shooting disrupted the final day of the event and sent hundreds of attendees fleeing as law enforcement worked to secure the area.
Police continue to investigate the incident and have asked anyone with information or video from the scene to contact investigators.
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