Seattle food festival shooting involved three suspects, including 15-year-old, police say

At least three suspects were involved in a food festival shooting in Seattle, police said, with one of them only 15 years old.

The gunfire erupted at around 6pm on Sunday in the final hours of the Bite of Seattle festival at Seattle Center, near the city's Space Needle.

Two people died at the scene and a third died in hospital, while four people were wounded, including a two-year-old boy. The dead were described as two men, aged 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman.

Police now believe there were at least three shooters: the 15-year-old, an acquaintance who died at the scene, and "at least one other unknown suspect".

The revelation appeared in a document filed in juvenile court in Seattle, where the 15-year-old arrested in the case did not show for a scheduled initial appearance on Monday.

"Based on the evidence at the scene, investigators believe" the 15-year-old "and one of the deceased engaged in a gunfight with at least one other unknown suspect," the document said.

The teenager was being held in juvenile detention for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault ahead of the afternoon court appearance, mayor Katie Wilson said at a news conference.

Police said earlier on Monday they were still searching for another suspect, but could not rule out whether that person was among the dead.

"We are trying to identify who that person is," said Seattle police chief Shon Barnes.

Investigators had said they believed two of the suspects were shooting at each other. Police said late on Sunday night it was not clear whether any of the victims had been involved in the incident between the two shooters.

Officials have not yet disclosed a ​motive for the shooting.

The wounded two-year-old boy was described as being in a satisfactory condition on Monday. The others who were injured - two men, aged 23 and 27, and a 39-year-old woman - were discharged, a hospital spokesperson said.

Vendor Roberto Ramirez said he heard what sounded like firecrackers before people started yelling "shooter" and running frantically.

Adam Lombardo, another vendor, described it as a "stampede".

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Bystander Estan Wakonabo said he and his girlfriend were waiting in line for a photo booth when he was pushed from behind and turned to see people fleeing.

"People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling," Wakonabo said.

"Once I heard a 'pop, pop, pop,' that's when I knew it was a shooter," he said.

Mr Wakonabo said he took his girlfriend to safety, but then returned to take pictures and saw multiple victims on the ground.

The annual three-day festival sees hundreds of food and retail vendors and performers gather at Seattle Center, a park and event space.

Many attendees rushed into campus buildings or ran from the park as the gunshots sounded.

Dozens of officers were providing security at the event, and some witnessed one of the suspects firing, authorities said.

A large number of police and emergency crews attended and began evacuating the area.

Police then searched an IMAX theater on the grounds where they initially believed a second shooter had fled.

A candlelight vigil is set to take place on Monday night at the Seattle Center's International Fountain.

(c) Sky News 2026: Seattle food festival shooting involved three suspects, including 15-year-old, police say