Three dead after shooting at Bite of Seattle food festival - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reports that Seattle police now believe at least three people may have been involved in Sunday’s fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival, held at Seattle Center near the Space Needle. Authorities had initially described the incident as involving two people firing at one another, but court filings connected to the arrest of a 15-year-old suspect indicate investigators are looking for at least one additional person. One suspect is in custody, another is being sought, and a third suspected participant is believed to be among those killed at the scene.

Three people died: 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, 44-year-old Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba and 56-year-old Ashley Whitehead, according to the King County medical examiner as cited by the BBC. At least four other people were injured, including a two-year-old boy. Police said two people died at the scene and another later died in hospital. Two firearms were recovered.

The arrested 15-year-old waived an initial court appearance Monday and was ordered held pending trial, according to local media cited in the BBC report. Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell said early information suggested the shooting may have been gang-related, and police believe the detained teenager and Semo were associated in some way, though officials did not detail the relationship.

The shooting happened on the final day of the free three-day festival, which the BBC says draws about 350,000 attendees annually. Witnesses described panic as people ran or sheltered inside nearby buildings. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson offered condolences to victims’ families, while Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the violence and said police were continuing to search for a possible third suspect.