Three individuals were killed and at least four others were injured in a shooting that occurred at a food festival near the Space Needle in Seattle on Sunday evening, according to police reports. A 15-year-old has been arrested in connection with the incident, although authorities clarified that no homicide charges have been filed against him. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson stated during a news conference on Monday that the teen is being held as part of a firearm and assault investigation.
Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis indicated that the shooting involved two individuals who were believed to be exchanging gunfire. As of Monday, the second suspect remains at large. Officers in the area responded quickly and confronted one of the shooters, which helped prevent further injuries. Two firearms were recovered at the scene.
In total, seven individuals were shot. CPR attempts on two victims were unsuccessful, and they were pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased have been identified as a 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man. A third victim, a 56-year-old woman, later died at Harborview Medical Center.
A 2-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old man were transported to Harborview and are reported to be in stable condition. Additionally, a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries declined immediate medical attention but later sought treatment at the University of Washington Medical Center.
The shooting took place around 6 p.m. local time during the annual Bite of Seattle food festival, which attracts many visitors to the Seattle Center, a well-known tourist destination that includes the Space Needle and Climate Pledge Arena. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots before fleeing the area.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that several agents were present at the scene, while the Seattle police are leading the investigation. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson noted that the state SWAT team responded at the request of local police.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the Seattle shooting marks the 271st mass shooting in the U.S. this year, with incidents defined as those where four or more individuals are shot, excluding the shooter. The current figures suggest that 2026 may surpass the total of 407 mass shootings recorded in 2025, although this is a decrease from the peak of 611 mass shootings in 2021.