A chaotic scene unfolded at Seattle Center early Sunday evening where Bite of Seattle was underway. Multiple gun shots rang out, killing three people and wounding at least four others just outside the Armory building.
Seattle police detained a 15-year-old boy in connection with the shooting. The teenage is being held in juvenile detention. On Monday, a judge found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree illegal possession of a firearm.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said Monday afternoon that two people exchanged gunfire: the teenager in custody and the 19-year-old man who died. Police are looking for a third possible suspect, Wilson said.
Assistant Chief of Investigations Nicole Powell said the shooting may be gang-related, but stressed that the information was preliminary. She said they believe the 19-year-old who died and the teenager they detained were "associates." Powell declined to answer questions about the investigation because she said it was ongoing. The next steps include reviewing bullet casings, camera footage, and tips from the public.
Police said there is no outstanding public threat and are asking witnesses who were at the crowded event to come forward with information by calling 206-233-5000. People can submit tips anonymously.
“There are witnesses. They're not coming forward. We need people to be brave, to reach out to us. You can do so anonymously. We know that we have people who probably have evidence or have information that they can share with us,” said Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis at a news conference Sunday night.
At a news conference on Monday, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes responded to criticism about the delay of information to the public.
"We understand that people are angry. You should be. Everyone should be angry. But with that anger, you should also be asking yourself, 'What can I do to prevent this?' he said. "We have to start partnering together. We have to start working together on this issue of gun violence and getting information out and providing opportunities for people, so that things like this do not happen."
A vigil for the victims will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Monday at the Seattle Center's International Fountain.
What we know about the victims
The King County Medical Examiner released the names of those killed in the shooting Monday afternoon.
Two men — Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, and Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44 — were declared dead at the scene, according to the Seattle Fire Department. Ashley Whitehead, 56, died after paramedics transported her to Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said at a Monday news briefing.
Of those injured, one woman was treated at the scene. Three others, including a 2-year-old boy, were transported to Harborview. As of Monday morning, the child was still in Harborview in satisfactory condition, according to UW Medicine spokesperson Susan Gregg. A 23-year-old man and 39-year-old woman have been released from medical care.
Police say they are following up on a potential eighth victim, a 27-year-old man who was treated for a gunshot wound at UW Medical Center-Montlake. That person was also discharged.
The scene
Witnesses told KNKX that around 6 p.m. a series of pops were heard and crowds began to leave the area en masse.
Earl Brewster, a chef working the event, said he heard shots being fired just before he was about to begin his shift.
“It was so crazy. I was, like, running. I was, like, caught up with some man and his daughter. I'm like pulling her. I'm caught in her purse and clothes. Like, this is insane," Brewster said.
At the time of the event, which drew thousands of people, there were dozens of officers at the scene. No officers fired a weapon. Two guns were recovered.
“This is a tragedy. I'm really sorry that this happened,” said Davis, the assistant police chief, at the Sunday news briefing.
“The Bite of Seattle is a very positive event. We haven't had any issue in recent years, and thankfully, we had officers on the scene that were brave, went to those shots, and prevented more victims from being injured.”
Multiple jurisdictions are involved in this investigation, including the FBI, the Washington State Patrol and King County Sheriff's Office. Seattle Police said they are working with the Seattle Center to clear the scene and collect all evidence before reopening the campus.
A slew of elected officials were at the Sunday night press conference, including Mayor Wilson, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
“What happened here today at the Seattle Center was an unbelievable tragedy, a horrific act of violence. My heart right now is with the victims and their families, and with everyone in our community who is reeling from what happened here today,” Wilson said.
When asked if she planned to install any cameras in Seattle Center, Wilson said she believed that there are already cameras present, “and we're working to see if any relevant footage is on those cameras.”
Davis said Seattle Police officers did heroic work on Sunday and that some lives were likely saved because of it.
“But it's nothing that we're going to celebrate right now," he said. "This is a tragedy. This is something that we want to prevent. We always want to get it right. We want to always keep somebody safe. And so, when our lives are lost, it's a tough time for our city.”
