A shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival in the early hours of Monday morning has left two people dead and five others injured, including a two-year-old boy. The incident occurred near the city's iconic Space Needle landmark.
Details of the shooting
Initial reports of the shooting surfaced at approximately 3:30am UK time on Monday, July 27. The BBC confirmed that two victims were declared dead at the scene. Five others sustained injuries, including a 56-year-old woman who remains hospitalised in serious condition.
Three additional victims were admitted to hospital in stable condition: a two-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old man. A fifth casualty, a 40-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries but refused hospital transport, according to fire officials.
Two suspects detained
Two suspects have been detained, Seattle city mayor Katie Wilson confirmed shortly before 5:30am UK time on Monday. Her statement read: "I want to thank the Seattle police officers who responded to the scene and took two suspects into custody."
Wilson added: "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. 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." The identities of those detained remain undisclosed.
Official response
Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal posted on X: "We are monitoring closely information from the shooting that took place at the Seattle Center this evening. We are in close touch with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Governor Bob Ferguson, and coordinating across multiple levels of government to get updates on the situation. We are grateful to law enforcement at Seattle Police Department and first responders who are at the scene and working hard. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this senseless violence."
She urged the public to stay away from the Seattle Center as an active investigation continues.
