A TEENAGER has been arrested after a shooting near Seattle’s Space Needle that killed three – as cops continue to hunt a second suspect.
Four more people were wounded, including a two-year-old boy, as terrifying shots rang out during the packed Bite of Seattle event.
Police said a 15-year-old suspect was arrested and is now being held in juvenile detention.
The teenager, who is being investigated for firearms violations and first-degree assault, is due to appear in court on Monday afternoon.
But cops are still looking for a second suspect.
The horror shooting unfolded at around 6pm on Sunday during the annual Bite of Seattle festival at Seattle Center, where thousands had gathered for the popular three-day food event.
Witnesses described parents grabbing their children and sprinting for safety as crowds smashed through barriers.
Harrowing images showed a stroller left among scattered tables and debris as terrified parents grabbed their children and fled the area.
Thousands had gathered for the popular three-day food event when the festival descended into chaos within seconds.
Authorities said officers were already patrolling the area when gunshots rang out at 6.01pm and rushed immediately towards the scene.
Police said two people died at the scene while five others were initially treated by medics.
Four victims – a two-year-old boy, a 23-year-old man and two adult women – were taken to hospital, where a third victim later died from their injuries.
Livestream footage from the scene shared on social media captured the moment the festival descended into panic within seconds.
Estan Wakonabo said he was waiting for a photo booth with his girlfriend when panic erupted.
“People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” he said.
“Once I heard a ‘pop, pop, pop,’ that’s when I knew it was a shooter.”
After getting his girlfriend to safety, Wakonabo returned and said he saw multiple victims lying on the ground.
A vendor from Hawaiian Honey Cones was promoting his business when one of his employees suddenly shouted: “Shooting,” before ducking behind the counter.
“Shooting, oh s***,” the man filming replied as families, including parents with young children, scrambled to escape.
Several loud gunshots could be heard as crowds smashed through barriers while the livestreamer reportedly urged people to take cover before telling his employee to “grab the money” and get down.
Witness Paul Skinner, 47, said he initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks.
“I just heard what sounded like what were some pretty loud fireworks at first,” he told the Seattle Times.
“Then the energy changed. Mobs of people started flooding back down. I just told our staff to get down.”
Kayla Carris, 22, said people rushed into the Seattle Armory as the shooting unfolded.
“Everyone was just throwing stuff and running,” she told the Seattle Times.
Adya Sengupta said Seattle Fudge workers sheltered dozens of terrified people inside the Armory.
“Inside the Seattle Armory was crazy, within seconds maybe 60-plus people had flooded the doors inside, all running towards that back corner with Seattle Fudge,” she told KING 5 News.
The FBI responded to the scene as police sealed off the area to continue their investigation.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said one person had been detained in connection with the bloodshed, although authorities believed a second suspect fled the scene.
Acting Police Chief Tyrone Davis said investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other, though it remains unclear what sparked the violence.
Two weapons were recovered and officials said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16751008/seattle-shooting-food-festival/
