Seattle pays tribute to festival shooting victims - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reported that Seattle residents gathered in mourning on Monday after three people were killed in a shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival the previous day. The victims were identified as Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, and Ashley Whitehead, 56. At least four other people were injured in the violence at the annual free festival, which the BBC said is a three-day event that draws about 350,000 attendees each year.

According to the BBC, families and community members held a candlelight vigil at a local fountain, with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson among those attending. Online fundraisers for Villalba and Whitehead had drawn tens of thousands of dollars in donations. Fundraising pages described Villalba as a husband, father of three and loyal friend, while Whitehead’s family said she had been waiting in line for cotton candy with her daughter when shots were fired and later died during surgery.

Authorities said they believe the shooting was targeted gang-related violence. Police suspect Semo, one of those killed, was involved in the gunfight, while the BBC reported that Villalba and Whitehead were not suspected of crimes. Investigators believe at least two other suspects were involved, including a 15-year-old who is in custody and another unidentified person.

Police said three guns were recovered, including an unregistered “ghost gun” with an extended magazine and a pistol fitted with a fully automatic switch. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said officers also want to speak with a person who went to hospital with a gunshot wound but left before police could interview them.