Chaos Erupts at Bite of Seattle Near the Space Needle – What We Know About the Incident and the Suspects

As terrified witnesses hid inside nearby buildings, investigators began piecing together a confrontation that may have involved more people than first believed.

A joyful summer festival turned into a scene of terror within seconds as gunshots sent thousands of people scrambling for safety near one of Seattle's most famous landmarks.

Yet even after the crowds fled and investigators flooded the area, the most troubling part of the story remained unresolved.

The shooting erupted at Seattle Center at around 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, as the three-day Bite of Seattle festival was drawing to a close.

According to a KING 5 report, two people died at the scene, while five others were initially reported injured. Four victims were transported to Harborview Medical Center, and another person with minor injuries was treated at the scene.

A separate victim later arrived at UW Medical Center with a gunshot wound. One of the people taken to Harborview subsequently died, Seattle Police Deputy Chief Andre Sayles confirmed during a press conference.

The developing reports therefore indicated that three victims had died, while several others were receiving treatment following the shooting. Harborview was placed under a modified lockdown to protect the victims. Authorities also urged the public to avoid Seattle Center as officers began processing the sprawling crime scene.

A Celebration Turns Into a Stampede

The gunfire erupted while thousands of visitors were packed into the Seattle Center grounds. Bite of Seattle can attract as many as 350,000 people over its three-day run, with an estimated 100,000 visitors attending each day.

Three public attractions were taking place at the center that weekend. Alongside the food festival, visitors had gathered for a Festál-related cultural art exhibition and a sculpture walk.

Witnesses said the atmosphere changed almost instantly. What some initially mistook for harmless popping noises quickly became unmistakable gunfire.

Witnesses Share Their Accounts from the Terrifying Moment

"I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling," one witness recalled. Adya Sengupta said she sought shelter inside the Seattle Armory as dozens of frightened people rushed through the doors. Seattle Fudge reportedly helped bring members of the crowd into its storefront for safety.

"Inside the Seattle Armory was crazy, within seconds maybe 60-plus people had flooded the doors inside, all running towards that back corner with Seattle Fudge [sic]," Sengupta said.

Faith Adia Hunter had just bought food from a crepe vendor with her friends when the shots began. She then made a frightening realization: one of the shooters was reportedly close to where they had been standing.

"We were right next to him when it started [sic] so we took off running," Hunter told Fox 34. "So we took off running too into the building with the crowd." Hunter and others eventually found shelter inside the nearby Seattle Children's Museum.

As panic swept across the festival grounds, vendors reportedly fled toward the exits and left behind food, tents, cooking supplies, and equipment. Hours later, some remained outside the police perimeter, uncertain when they would be allowed to return and collect their belongings.

Vendor Roberto Ramirez said he initially heard noises that resembled firecrackers. Then people began yelling "shooter" and running in fear. "Suddenly everything was empty," Ramirez said. "People were freaked out."

The confusion did not end when the first crowds escaped. Ramirez said new guests continued arriving without realizing what had happened, only to be turned away by police.

'People Were Falling on the Ground'

Estan Wakonabo was waiting in line for a photo booth with his girlfriend when someone shoved him from behind. When he turned around, he saw a wave of people rushing away. "People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling," he said.

Wakonabo then heard the unmistakable sound that confirmed everyone's worst fear. "Once I heard a 'pop, pop, pop,' that's when I knew it was a shooter," he recalled. After escorting his girlfriend to safety, Wakonabo returned to photograph the scene. He said he saw several victims lying on the ground.

"It was a stampede," he told NBC affiliate KING in an account reported by NBC News. "There's bodies everywhere," he added of the people who appeared to have been injured. "I mean, I counted eight."

'We All Got Down and Took Cover'

Paul Skinner, who was helping operate a booth for the Crave food truck, also said the first sounds resembled firecrackers. "We just heard what at first sounded like firecrackers, but it's just a little too crowded for that kind of thing," Skinner recalled.

"So then, when the crowd started moving quickly in herds, you knew it was something was happening [sic]." He added, "We all got down and took cover."

Isaiah Flores Sanches remembered how abruptly the cheerful gathering became a nightmare. "It went from something being so playful and so joyful to being something so horrific, and I seen [sic] people on the floor trying to take cover," he said.

Festival Representative Davis stressed that such violence is not typical of the popular event. "The Bite of Seattle is a very positive event," Davis said. "We haven't had any issue in recent years." Festival organizers did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment.

A Landmark Complex Becomes a Crime Scene

Seattle Center is home to some of the city's most recognizable attractions. Its central structures were developed for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, including the Space Needle, the Seattle Center Monorail, and the building formerly known as the Coliseum.

Following the shooting, the Seattle Monorail was shut down for the remainder of Sunday. Officials said it was expected to reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, July 27. The Pacific Science Center also announced that it would remain closed Monday. Guests who had already bought tickets were expected to receive refunds.

Federal and State Agencies Join the Investigation

Multiple local, state, and federal agencies responded after the shooting. The investigation involves the Seattle Police Department's Homicide Unit, Gun Violence Reduction Unit, and Crime Scene Investigation Unit. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, King County law enforcement, and Washington State Patrol also responded.

The state SWAT team was sent at the Seattle Police Department's request, according to Gov. Bob Ferguson's office. Despite the scale of the response, investigators faced a significant obstacle. Sayles said there were no security cameras in the immediate area where the shooting occurred. Police asked anyone with information to contact the SPD tip line at 206-233-5000.

What Police Have Revealed About the Suspects

Late Sunday, Mayor Katie Wilson's office confirmed that police had taken one suspect into custody. Sayles described the person only as a "young person." The individual was expected to make a first court appearance on Monday morning, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Investigators believe that two people had been shooting at each other, and officers recovered two guns. However, police had not accounted for everyone potentially involved. One suspect remains outstanding, and Sayles warned that "there may be more."

The deputy chief made clear that detectives are still trying to establish exactly how many people had participated in the deadly confrontation.

"We're still trying to figure this out," he said.