Seattle shooting at food festival kills three, injures five including toddler

A shooting at Seattle's annual Bite of Seattle food festival killed three people and injured five, including a toddler, on July 26, 2026. Police believe the incident was a shootout between two individuals near the Space Needle. One suspect surrendered at the scene and was arrested, while a manhunt is underway for a second. The attack caused widespread panic, with officials calling it an "act of horrific violence."

Seattle food festival shooting

• ▪The Bite of Seattle festival, which started in 1982, typically draws 350,000 attendees over three days
• ▪Police believe two suspects were shooting at each other, with members of the public caught in the crossfire
• ▪A shooting at the annual Bite of Seattle food festival on July 26, 2026, occurred around 6 p.m. near the Space Needle
• ▪The attack is one of at least 271 mass shootings recorded in the U.S. in 2026, according to the Gun Violence Archive

Victim injury details

• ▪The deceased victims were identified as two men, ages 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman
• ▪Three people were killed in the shooting
• ▪Five people were wounded in the shooting, including a 2-year-old boy
• ▪Two of the victims died at the scene, while a third died at a hospital

Suspect apprehension

• ▪One suspect was arrested after surrendering to police at the scene
• ▪Two weapons were recovered from the scene of the shooting

Manhunt for second suspect

• ▪Police are searching for a second suspect who fled the scene
• ▪Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis stated there was no ongoing threat to the public despite a suspect remaining at large
• ▪Police did not have a description of the outstanding suspect

Eyewitness accounts

• ▪Witness Estan Wakonabo described people falling and baby strollers being toppled as crowds fled
• ▪Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos, with some initially mistaking the gunshots for fireworks
• ▪Some festival attendees took shelter in the nearby Seattle Children's Museum during the shooting

Official responses

• ▪U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal said in a statement that she was "absolutely horrified" by the violence
• ▪Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said State Patrol SWAT officers were deployed to assist local police
• ▪Harborview Medical Center, which treated several victims, went into a "partial lockdown" following the incident