Seattle Food Festival Shooting Kills Three
A shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center killed three people and injured several others, including a 2-year-old boy; one suspect is in custody, a second fled.
The Morning Brief Desk · July 27, 2026 · Based on reporting by AP News
Gunfire broke out around 6 p.m. local time Sunday at Seattle Center, the events complex near the Space Needle that was hosting the annual Bite of Seattle food festival, the BBC reported. Three people were killed and several others injured, according to the city fire department. Two of the dead were confirmed at the scene, and a third person died later at a hospital. A 2-year-old boy was among the injured, officials said.
Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said investigators believe two suspects were shooting at each other, according to the BBC. Mayor Katie Wilson said one suspect was taken into custody; Davis said a second fled the scene and had not been apprehended. Wilson initially announced two suspects were in custody before revising her statement Sunday evening.
Videos posted online showed festivalgoers sheltering inside the Space Needle, crouching behind pillars and merchandise shelves in the lobby as the shooting unfolded, the BBC reported. One attendee described the scene to local media as "pure chaos." The fire department said four of the injured were taken to hospitals in stable condition, while a fifth declined transport. Casualty counts varied in initial reports Sunday night: Reuters reported at least two dead and five wounded, while the BBC put the death toll at three.
The context
Bite of Seattle is an annual food festival held at Seattle Center, the complex surrounding the Space Needle in downtown Seattle. The event had been running across the weekend when the shots were fired Sunday evening, according to the BBC.
Initial reporting produced differing figures. The Associated Press reported that police confirmed multiple people had been shot near the tower. Reuters counted at least two dead and five injured, while the BBC, citing the fire department, reported three deaths. The mayor's account of arrests also shifted within hours, from two suspects in custody to one, with police saying a second suspect remained at large. The Seattle Police Department said the investigation was ongoing and urged the public to avoid the area. The U.S. flag atop the Space Needle was lowered to half-staff after the shooting.
Why it matters
The shooting struck a large public gathering at one of Seattle's best-known landmarks, sending crowds scrambling for cover inside the Space Needle itself. With a toddler among the wounded and a second suspect still at large as of Sunday night, the case drew responses from officials at multiple levels of government. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal condemned the violence, and Jayapal said officials were coordinating across levels of government for updates. Mayor Wilson called it an "act of horrific violence."
What’s next
The Seattle Police Department's investigation continues, and the search for the second suspect was ongoing as of Sunday night. Key details remain unresolved: the identities of the victims and the suspect in custody, any charges, and what prompted the exchange of gunfire. The final casualty count may also change, given the conflicting figures in initial reports. Police have asked the public to stay away from the area.
Sources
AP News — Multiple people have been shot after gunfire erupts near Seattle's iconic Space Needle, police say
Police say multiple people have been injured in a shooting at an events complex close to the Space Needle in Seattle.
BBC World — Three dead and several injured in shooting at food festival near Seattle's Space Needle
Several others, including a two-year-old boy, were also injured. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson says a suspect is in custody.
Reuters — Seattle shooting leaves 2 dead, 5 injured, according to reports
At least two people were killed and five others, including a 2-year-old child, were wounded on Sunday in a shooting at a downtown Seattle food festival.
See a mistake? Report an error