Shooting in Seattle: 3 dead and 4 injured at the Bite of Seattle festival next to the Space Needle

At least three people were killed and four were injured—including a 2-year-old child—after a shooting on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at the Bite of Seattle food festival, held at Seattle Center next to the Space Needle. Fox News spread the alert this Monday: two shooters had fired at each other while thousands of attendees fled in panic. A young man is detained and police are looking for a second suspect.

What happened, according to the police

According to the official Seattle Police (SPD) blog, officers patrolling the festival heard the gunshots and responded within seconds. The events occurred around 6:00 pm outside the Seattle Center Armory, in the northwest corner of the building.

Preliminary investigations indicate that two people exchanged shots. Seven people were hit by bullets. Two died at the scene; a third victim — a 56-year-old woman— died at Harborview Medical Center. The fatalities also include a 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man.

Among the injured are a 2-year-old boy, a 39 woman and a 23-year-old man, all in stable condition in local hospitals, according to Deputy Chief Tyrone Davis in a press conference cited by CBS News. A 40-year-old woman with minor injuries later went to the University of Washington Medical Center.

Detained, second suspect and weapons recovered

Police arrested an individual shortly after the shooting and took him to headquarters for questioning. Fox News and KOMO News describes the detainee as a «young»; Authorities have not published his identity or formal charges at the time of writing.

The second suspect is still at large. Davis said officers confronted one of the shooters, which prevented more victims, and that two guns were recovered at the scene. ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) and state teams, including a SWAT requested by Governor Bob Ferguson, participated in the response.

Witnesses: "We thought they were fireworks"

CNN collects the testimony of attendees who mistook the shots for pyrotechnics before the crowd ran, knocked down fences and fled the venue. A live-streaming vendor captured the moment the shooting broke out; Witnesses told CBS/KIRO that they saw people falling and medical teams trying to revive victims on the ground.

Mayor Katie Wilson and Governor Bob Ferguson appeared before the media. The Space Needle flag flew at half-mast on Monday, according to The Seattle Times.

In summary

Where? Bite of Seattle, Seattle Center. How many dead? 3. Injured? 4, including a 2-year-old child. Reason? Unknown; It looks like a shooting between two people. Current threat? Police say no. Next step? Search for the second suspect; homicide and gun violence reduction units investigate.

Anyone with information can call the SPD tip line: 206-233-5000.

Update (July 27, 2026): Note based on Fox News (X), Fox News, SPD Blotter, CBS News, CNN, The Seattle Times and KOMO News.