Three people were killed, and at least four others were injured in a shooting incident on Sunday evening during a food festival at an events complex in Seattle, Washington, according to a spokesperson at the city’s fire department.
Seattle Police said one suspect was arrested and they were searching for another following the incident in a popular tourist district of the northwestern US city.
Gunfire was reported around 6 pm local time at the Seattle Centre during the ‘Bite of Seattle’ festival. “There were two people who we believe were shooting at each other,” Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said as two weapons were recovered.
Seattle Police also reported that two people died at the scene at the Seattle Centre and a third died in hospital.
Four patients were being treated at the trauma centre facility at Harborview Medical Centre, according to spokesperson Susan Gregg: a child, a woman of unknown age who was in surgery, a 23-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman. One of them did not survive their injuries, Davis said, without identifying the victim.
Another victim arrived later at the University of Washington Medical Centre with a gunshot wound, which brings the number of wounded back to four.
Those that remained in hospital, including the toddler, were in a “stable condition,” Davis added.
Moments of panic
Estan Wakonabo said he and his girlfriend were at the festival waiting in line for a photo booth when he was shoved from behind, and he turned to see a rush of people fleeing.
“People were hiding and pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” said Wakonabo, adding that was when he heard gunshots.
“Once I heard a ‘pop, pop, pop,’ that’s when I knew it was a shooter,” he said.
After he escorted his girlfriend to safety, he returned to the scene to capture photos to report to authorities, and saw multiple victims on the ground.
Several witnesses told local media they heard multiple shots before running away.
“At first, I thought there were fireworks, and then everybody flooded and ran past us,” Nick Bate said to television station KIRO.
“We started running. I didn’t know. I didn’t look where the person was going. I just heard everything,” a witness told AFP.
A large number of police and emergency crews were mobilised after initial reports flooded in early in the evening and began escorting and evacuating attendees to safety.
The Seattle Centre was hosting the 42nd edition of its largest free-admission festival over the weekend. The annual event started in 1982 and draws more than 350,000 attendees over “three days of food, drink, and community celebration,” according to its website.
Additional sources • AP, AFP