Seattle: Multiple people were injured after gunfire erupted during a crowded food festival near Seattle’s iconic Space Needle on Sunday, prompting a massive police response and sending festivalgoers scrambling for safety.
The shooting took place at the Seattle Center, where the annual ‘Bite of Seattle’ festival was underway, attracting thousands of visitors with food stalls, live music and entertainment. The incident unfolded just a block from the Space Needle, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
In a statement posted on X, the Seattle Police Department confirmed that officers were investigating the shooting.
“Police are investigating a shooting. Multiple shooting victims. Shots fired at the Seattle Center. More information to come. Please avoid the area,” the department said.
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Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact number of victims or whether any suspects have been taken into custody. The motive behind the shooting also remains unclear.
According to local media reports, the injured were transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Officials have not released details about the severity of the injuries.
Videos circulating on social media captured the terrifying moments after gunfire rang out, showing panicked crowds running through the festival grounds as people attempted to flee the scene.
Several eyewitnesses said they heard a rapid burst of gunfire.
One witness estimated hearing “seven to eight shots,” adding that people began running in every direction as confusion spread across the packed venue.
Another attendee told The Seattle Times that the festival was already heavily crowded before the shooting, making it difficult for people to escape quickly once the gunfire began.
“It was just pure chaos,” 25-year-old Estan Wakonabo told the newspaper, recalling that people trampled one another in the rush to get away. He later returned to the area and said he saw multiple gunshot victims lying on the ground, including what appeared to be a body covered with a yellow sheet.
Despite those eyewitness accounts, authorities have not confirmed any fatalities as of now.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police urging the public to avoid the Seattle Center area while officers continue processing the crime scene and gathering evidence.
