Deadly Shootout at Seattle Food Festival Kills 3 and Wounds a Toddler

Gunfire Erupts at Packed Seattle Festival

A festive summer afternoon turned to chaos on Sunday, July 26, when gunfire broke out at one of the Pacific Northwest's most beloved annual traditions. Gunfire erupted at a crowded food festival beneath Seattle's Space Needle, leaving three people dead and four others injured, including a toddler. The shots rang out around 6 p.m. in the waning hours of the Bite of Seattle, an annual festival that draws hundreds of food and retail vendors and performers.

The Bite of Seattle, one of the Pacific Northwest's largest annual food festivals, had returned to Seattle Center from July 24 through July 26, 2026 — a free event that traditionally attracts tens of thousands of visitors who come for local restaurants, live music, cooking demonstrations, and family-friendly entertainment. On the afternoon of July 26, that festive atmosphere was shattered when multiple reports of gunfire triggered panic among attendees, with large crowds quickly running toward exits as police officers and emergency medical crews rushed in.

What Investigators Believe Happened

Three people were killed and four others were injured in what police believe was a shootout between a pair of gunmen. Dozens of officers were providing security at the event, and some saw one of the suspects firing. One suspect surrendered at the scene, but the other fled — and law enforcement searched the grounds to no avail.

Officers found and confiscated two guns at the scene, and the department believes two suspects were shooting at each other. The suspect taken into custody was described only as a "young person." Although one suspect remained on the loose, Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis told a news conference that there was no ongoing threat to the public — though police did not have a description of the outstanding suspect.

The Human Toll

Two people died at the scene and a third died at a hospital. The four wounded, including a 2-year-old boy, were hospitalized and in stable condition, according to Grace Nuñez, spokesperson for the Seattle Fire Department. Among those taken to Harborview Medical Center were a 2-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old man, all in stable condition, while a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries declined hospital transport.

Witnesses attending the festival told reporters they heard "seven to eight shots," with people running "everywhere." One man said he was near a stage where a band was playing when he heard "at least two dozen shots." Faith Adia Hunter said she and her friends had just gotten food from a crepe vendor when gunfire broke out, and she quickly realized a shooter was near them.

Investigation Underway, Community Shaken

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said several of its agents were at the scene, with Seattle police leading the investigation. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said the state SWAT team was dispatched at the request of Seattle police. During the briefing, it was revealed there were no surveillance cameras in the immediate area where the shooting occurred, though Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson disputed this claim.

Investigators urged any witnesses with information on potential suspects to call the SPD hotline at (206) 233-5000. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's office confirmed the arrest, while authorities acknowledged the investigation remains active and fluid. As one statement captured the community's grief: "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. No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event." With one suspect still at large and the motive unknown, investigators face mounting pressure to bring answers — and accountability — to a city still reeling from what should have been a celebration.