Newly obtained 911 audio recordings capture the chaotic moments following a deadly shooting at Seattle’s Bite of Seattle festival, with a wounded caller pleading for help and dispatchers reporting multiple victims.
"I’m losing blood," one caller, who stated they had been shot in the back, told a dispatcher. The caller indicated they did not know who opened fire, adding, "I took cover. I see the officers down here."
Throughout the recordings, dispatchers worked to calm the caller while directing emergency responders. Other transmissions reveal the growing assessment of the situation near the Seattle Center Armory. "Multiple people down at this point," one dispatcher stated when asked about the number of victims. As more information came in, another dispatcher requested "as many aid units as possible," indicating at least two people were down, with the number likely higher.
By the time of the chaotic response, dispatchers reported "six confirmed gunshot wounds."
The shooting occurred last month outside the Seattle Center Armory during the Bite of Seattle food festival. Authorities previously reported that three people were killed and four others were wounded, including a 2-year-old boy. The deceased included a 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man, both pronounced dead at the scene. A 56-year-old woman died after being transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson described the event as "an act of horrific violence," stating that "an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire." She added, "No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city."
Officials believe a 15-year-old suspect opened fire into the crowd, though the details are still under investigation. The teen was booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of firearms violations and first-degree assault. As of the latest updates, no homicide charges had been filed against the suspect.
Former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes suggested investigators believed gunfire was exchanged outside the Armory following a conflict between small groups, with bystanders caught in the crossfire. Initial investigations considered the possibility of two gunmen, but a juvenile court document later indicated that the detained teen and an acquaintance found dead at the scene may have exchanged gunfire with at least one other unidentified suspect.
Seattle Police have offered limited public updates on the investigation. Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles stated earlier this month that investigators had developed new information and anticipated an arrest, but he declined to provide specifics to maintain the investigation's integrity. The Mayor's Office has stated that the administration is working closely with the Seattle Police Department to ensure timely public dissemination of information regarding critical events.