Seattle festival shooting leaves two dead and five wounded near Space Needle
A Sunday evening shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle left two people dead and five others wounded, including a toddler.
A horrific Sunday evening shooting at a popular Seattle food festival left two people dead and five others wounded, emergency officials confirmed. The violence erupted at approximately 6 p.m. Local time on Sunday, 26 July 2026, transforming a lively community gathering into a scene of panic and emergency response, according to reporting by AP News.
The incident took place at the sprawling Seattle Center outdoor events complex just northwest of downtown, a location frequently covered in Yahoo News reporting. The area was hosting the annual Bite of Seattle food festival, which draws massive crowds to sample regional cuisines, enjoy live music performances, and visit vendor booths situated just a block away from the iconic Space Needle. According to the festival's website, the annual event started in 1982 and draws 350,000 attendees over three days of food, drink, and community celebration.
Media additions
Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene after unsuccessful life-saving efforts, according to Grace Nuñez, spokesperson for the Seattle Fire Department. Five additional patients were transported for medical treatment to Harborview Medical Center, the region's highest-level trauma center. Among the injured is a two-year-old boy, whose condition along with a 23-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman was reported as stable. A 56-year-old woman was transported in serious condition, while a 40-year-old woman sustained minor injuries. A spokesperson for Harborview Medical Center stated that the facility expected to receive patients injured in the shooting.
Chaos and confusion swept through the festival grounds as the gunfire began. Witnesses initially mistook the sounds for fireworks or firecrackers before realizing the severe nature of the threat. Faith Adia Hunter recounted to journalists that she and her friends had just purchased food from a crepe vendor when the shooting started nearby, forcing them to flee alongside a terrified crowd and take shelter inside the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum. Another festival attendee, Estan Wakonabo, described being shoved from behind while waiting in line for a photo booth with his girlfriend, watching baby strollers overturn as crowds scrambled for safety before hearing successive gunshots. Wakonabo stated that once he heard a pop, pop, pop, he knew it was a shooter, and after escorting his girlfriend to safety, he returned to the scene to make photos and saw multiple victims on the ground.
Other festivalgoers described similar scenes of terror. Nick Bate told local station KIRO that he initially thought there were fireworks before everyone flooded and ran past. Leanne Coles told the station that everybody started running through the garden and ducked, keeping track of their location by looking up for the Space Needle. Two other witnesses told KOMO they heard seven to eight shots inside the venue, adding that people were running everywhere. Another witness told KING TV of seeing bodies everywhere, counting eight individuals on the ground who appeared to be injured.
Paul Skinner, a worker operating a food truck named Crave at the festival, noted that the dense crowds made the loud pops immediately suspicious, prompting herds of attendees to run for cover. Broadcaster coverage from local affiliates captured similar scenes, with CBS affiliate KIRO-TV reporter Heather Bosch noting individuals receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the ground.
The Seattle Police Department utilized social media to command the public to avoid the area while emergency crews swarmed Sue Bird CT & Thomas St. Authorities evacuated the entire Seattle Center complex as police and emergency responders arrived in large numbers. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that several of its agents deployed to the scene to assist local investigators.
As the investigation unfolded, officials maintained a cautious posture regarding suspects. Law enforcement did not immediately disclose whether anyone was in custody or state how many shooters may have been involved. Meanwhile, ancillary municipal services adjusted to the crisis; the Seattle Center Monorail announced it would remain shut down for the remainder of the evening before resuming regular operations on Monday morning.
What to Know: Incident Summary
- Date and Time: Sunday, 26 July 2026, around 6 p.m. Local time.
- Location: Seattle Center, near the Space Needle, during the Bite of Seattle festival.
- Casualties: Two dead at the scene, five injured and transported to Harborview Medical Center (including a two-year-old child).
- Responding Agencies: Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
For broader international headlines and ongoing updates on global security developments, readers can review our dedicated World coverage section.
