Updated July 27, 2026 at 10:23 AM PDT
A chaotic scene unfolded at Seattle Center early Sunday evening where Bite of Seattle was underway. Multiple gun shots rang out, killing a total of three people and wounding four others. The incident happened just outside the Armory building. One person is in custody, according to Seattle Police.
Two victims were declared deceased at the scene, according to the Seattle Fire Department. Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis said one person who was taken to Harborview Medical Center did not survive their injuries.
Three other people, including a 2-year-old, were transported to Harborview. As of Monday morning, the 2-year-old is still in Harborview in satisfactory condition, according to UW Medicine spokesperson Susan Gregg. Two others, a 23-year-old man and 39-year-old woman, have been discharged. A fourth person, a 27-year-old man who was treated at UW Medical Center - Montlake, has also been discharged.
Witnesses tell KNKX that around 6 p.m. a series of pops were heard and crowds began to leave the area en masse.
Earl Brewster, a chef working the event, told KNKX that he heard shots being fired just before he was about to begin his shift.
"It was so crazy. I was like running. I was, like, caught up with some man and his daughter. I'm like pulling her. I'm caught in her purse and clothes. Like. this is insane," Brewster said.
At the time of the event, which drew thousands of people, there were dozens of officers at the scene. No officers fired a weapon. Two guns were recovered.
"This is a tragedy. I'm really sorry that this happened," said Davis, the assistant police chief, at a press briefing late on Sunday evening.
"The Bite of Seattle is a very positive event. We haven't had any issue in recent years, and thankfully, we had officers on the scene that were brave, went to those shots, and prevented more victims from being injured."
Davis said the one individual in custody is a "young person" and that at least one other suspect believed to be involved in the shooting fled the scene. Police say it's possible more individuals were involved.
Police say there is no outstanding threat to the community. They are asking witnesses who were at the crowded event to come forward with information.
"There are witnesses. They're not coming forward. We need people to be brave, to reach out to us. You can do so anonymously. We know that we have people who probably have evidence or have information that they can share with us," Davis said.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 206-233-5000.
Multiple jurisdictions are involved in this investigation, including the FBI, the Washington State Patrol and King County Sheriff's Office. Seattle Police said they are working with the Seattle Center to clear the scene and collect all evidence before reopening the campus.
A slew of elected officials were at the press conference, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
"What happened here today at the Seattle Center was an unbelievable tragedy, a horrific act of violence. My heart right now is with the victims and their families, and with everyone in our community who is reeling from what happened here today," Wilson said.
When asked if she planned to install any cameras in Seattle Center, Wilson said she believed that there are already cameras present, "and we're working to see if any relevant footage is on those cameras."
Davis said Seattle Police officers did heroic work on Sunday and that some lives were likely saved because of it.
"But it's nothing that we're going to celebrate right now," he said. "This is a tragedy. This is something that we want to prevent. We always want to get it right. We want to always keep somebody safe. And so, when our lives are lost, it's a tough time for our city."
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This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
