Three people were killed and four others injured, including a 2-year-old boy, in a shooting Sunday evening at the Bite of Seattle food festival held at Seattle Center. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, 44-year-old Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, and 56-year-old Ashley Whitehead.
Mayor Katie Wilson stated Monday that Villalba and Whitehead were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire, while Semo was involved in the shooting. Semo sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Villalba died from a gunshot wound to his torso, and Whitehead died from a gunshot wound to her pelvis at the hospital.
The 2-year-old boy remains hospitalized. A 15-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting. Police are actively searching for a second individual they believe is connected to the incident, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. on Sunday at the popular festival, which was reportedly crowded at the time. Law enforcement responded to the scene, and vendor booths were later seen abandoned.