Bite of Seattle shooting video shows vendor fleeing as 3 killed
Seattle police say three people died and four were injured after gunfire at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
A Bite of Seattle shooting turned a busy food festival near the Space Needle into chaos Sunday night, with police saying three people were killed and four others were injured, including a 2-year-old child.
Video posted to X shows the moment the mood snaps. A food vendor is seen promoting Hawaiian honeycomb treats for Hawaiian Honey Cones before gunfire can be heard in the background and people nearby drop for cover.
The vendor then tells a worker to grab the tips and cash register before they both run from the stand, according to the video.
What happened at the Bite of Seattle shooting?
Seattle police said gunfire broke out Sunday night at Bite of Seattle, the annual three-day food festival held at Seattle Center, about a block from the Space Needle. Police believe two people were shooting at each other, Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis told reporters at a late Sunday briefing.
Davis said one suspect was in custody and that officers were still looking for a second gunman. He also said police recovered two firearms.
Police have not announced a motive. Davis said the investigation was continuing and told reporters there was no outstanding threat to the community.
Police detail the victims
Seattle police said two people died at the scene: a 19-year-old and a 44-year-old. A 56-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead, according to police.
Police said four others were injured in the shooting, including a 2-year-old child. The surviving victims were listed in stable condition.
The shooting sent festivalgoers scrambling across one of Seattle’s best-known public spaces. The video from the vendor’s stand captures a small slice of the panic: the sales pitch, the sudden sound of shots, people ducking low and workers racing away with what they could carry.
What is Bite of Seattle?
Bite of Seattle is an annual three-day food festival at Seattle Center. The event draws vendors and crowds to the area near the Space Needle, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
The festival setting made the shooting especially visible, with food stands, attendees and workers all packed into the area when the gunfire began, according to police and the video posted online.
Mayor calls it horrific violence
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson issued a statement after the shooting, calling it “an act of horrific violence.” She thanked first responders for their quick work at the scene.
Police have said the case remains under investigation. Davis told reporters that officers were continuing to seek the second suspected shooter while the person already detained remained in custody.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.