Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 27: Two people were killed and five others injured after gunfire erupted during the popular Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center on Sunday evening, prompting a large-scale emergency response and an ongoing police investigation.
According to the Seattle Fire Department, two victims were declared dead at the scene. Among the five injured were a two-year-old boy, a 23-year-old man and two adult women, all of whom were taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Another woman, aged 40, suffered minor injuries, received medical attention at the scene and declined hospitalisation.
Harborview Medical Center said one of the injured women remains in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery, while the remaining patients admitted to the hospital are reported to be in satisfactory condition.
Police and emergency personnel rushed to Seattle Center shortly after the shooting was reported and evacuated the area as investigators secured the scene. Authorities urged residents and visitors to stay away from the venue while forensic teams carried out their work.
Seattle Center, home to major landmarks including the Space Needle and Climate Pledge Arena, was crowded at the time as it hosted the annual Bite of Seattle festival, one of the city's most popular food and cultural events.
Witnesses told local media that they heard between seven and eight gunshots, triggering panic among festival-goers. Many attendees reportedly fled the area in fear as the shots rang out.
Police have not announced any arrests or identified a suspect, and investigators have yet to establish a motive behind the attack. The probe remains ongoing.
The incident comes just over a week after another mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, where ten people, including the suspected gunman, were injured during an overnight shooting in the city's downtown area on July 19.
In that case, Tucson police officers on patrol responded immediately after hearing gunfire and encountered a man fleeing the scene. According to authorities, officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to stop before one officer opened fire. The identities of those involved and the motive behind the Tucson shooting have not yet been disclosed.
The latest violence in Seattle adds to a series of recent mass shooting incidents across the United States, with investigators continuing to search for answers in both cases.