A 15-year-old boy has been ordered to remain in juvenile detention after prosecutors linked him to a deadly shooting at a crowded food festival in Seattle. The incident left three people dead and at least four others injured during a reported gunfight near the event area.
The shooting happened Sunday night during the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Seattle Center Armory. Authorities said the violence involved an exchange of gunfire between at least two people, with investigators also looking into the possibility of a third person being involved.
Seattle officials said the case is still under investigation. Police are reviewing video footage, examining evidence from the scene, and following tips to understand exactly how the shooting unfolded.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said investigators believe two people exchanged gunfire outside the festival area. One person was taken into custody, while the second person involved was identified as a 19-year-old man who died at the scene.
Authorities said the shooting may have been connected to gang activity. Seattle Police Assistant Chief Nicole Powell said investigators believe two groups may have been involved in the gunfire.
According to court documents, a police officer who was less than 100 feet away from the scene saw the 15-year-old holding a handgun and firing toward the crowd. Prosecutors said the teenager was arrested shortly after the shooting.
The teenager is being held on suspicion of three counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Prosecutors have not yet announced final charges, and a formal charging decision is expected after additional investigation details are reviewed.
The teen had no previous criminal case in King County, according to the county prosecutor’s office. His public defender did not comment on the case.
Officials identified the 15-year-old and the 19-year-old suspect as associates. The 19-year-old was also detained after the shooting but later died from injuries caused by gunfire, according to court records.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the three people who died in the attack. Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, died from multiple gunshot wounds. Ashley Whitehead, 56, died after being shot in the pelvis. Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, died from a gunshot wound to the torso.
Four additional people were injured during the shooting. Officials said all injured victims were in stable condition. Among those hurt was a 2-year-old child who was taken to Harborview Medical Center and later released.
Court documents state that several victims were found in the direction where prosecutors believe the teenager fired. Investigators are continuing to collect evidence to determine the full sequence of events.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people rushed away from the gunfire. Some attendees initially thought the sounds were fireworks before realizing there was an active shooting.
Food vendor Hana Kim said people ran toward her family’s food stand for safety. She described seeing visitors searching for their family members while others tried to find shelter.
Kim said her first concern was protecting her parents, who were working nearby. She and her family helped people leave the area while police officers moved toward the scene.
Videos shared after the incident showed festival attendees running away as officers responded. Parents could be seen holding children while trying to move away from the danger.
Kim said vendors quickly abandoned their stalls during the emergency. Food was still cooking, and many people left behind personal items as they focused on reaching safety.
The incident has shocked the Seattle community and raised renewed concerns about public safety at large gatherings. Officials said investigators will continue working to determine who was involved and what led to the exchange of gunfire.
Authorities are asking anyone with information, video footage, or other details about the shooting to contact investigators. The investigation remains active as officials work to provide a complete account of what happened.
