A Washington-based content creator raised concerns about the apparent lack of security at the Bite of Seattle food festival just one day before a mass shooting claimed three lives and injured four others. The TikTokker, known as Leebo, posted a video on Saturday, July 26, highlighting what they described as a noticeable absence of security personnel and checks.
"There's not any security walking around," the creator stated in the video, expressing surprise that individuals could enter the festival grounds without pat-downs or bag checks. "You should not be able to just walk up into this festival – with all these people, with all these vendors with no security."
Following the shooting on Sunday, July 27, the creator shared another video noting the absence of metal detectors and security officers with dogs, further criticizing festival organizers. The New York Post has reached out to Bite of Seattle for comment.
The Bite of Seattle, an annual three-day festival held at Seattle Center since 1986, draws approximately 350,000 attendees and has previously been recognized as one of the best food festivals in the U.S.
Shots were fired around 6 p.m. Sunday, shortly before the festival's scheduled conclusion. Three individuals were confirmed dead: two pronounced at the scene and one who died after being transported to a local hospital. Four others sustained injuries, including a two-year-old boy and two adult women, one of whom later died. Injuries reported included gunshot wounds to the arm, abdomen, and leg.
Witnesses described a scene of panic, with one individual working at the festival recounting hearing multiple gunshots and assisting children over a fence. Another witness heard a few pops, initially dismissing them until seeing families and children fleeing. The cry of "active shooter" prompted widespread flight, with some individuals reportedly jumping fences to escape.
Video shared on social media platform X depicted numerous people seeking shelter inside the Space Needle's gift shop. Estan Wakonabo, 25, told The Seattle Times that the fleeing crowd descended into chaos, with people trampling each other, falling, and baby strollers being overturned.
Roberto Ramirez, a vendor at the event, reported hearing sounds similar to firecrackers before people began shouting about a shooter and fleeing. A live YouTube video filmed by a vendor, Hawaiian Honey Cones, captured the moment the pops of gunfire were heard, with someone exclaiming "Shooting, shooting!" and the vendor instructing staff to get down.
Seattle police have taken one suspect into custody, and another individual remains at large. Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis described the individual at large as a "young person" but did not specify if they were a child or an adult. Authorities have issued an urgent appeal for witnesses to come forward.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has experienced 271 mass shootings this year, with a mass shooting defined as an incident in which at least four victims are shot, excluding the perpetrator.