USA Today, by Christopher Cann, Natalie Neysa Alund, and Michael Loria: Authorities on July 27 continued to search for a third suspect in the shooting at a Seattle food festival, after detaining a 15-year-old boy who police said opened fire in the incident that left two people and another alleged gunman dead.
The gunfire erupted the evening of July 26, the final night of the Bite of Seattle food festival at the Seattle Center, an outdoor park home to the Space Needle. The shots sent the large crowd of families and vendors into a frenzy as people ran for cover.
In total, seven people were struck by gunfire and possibly an eighth person was hit as a barrage of bullets flew, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said during a July 27 late morning press conference.
According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, the two people killed in the incident were Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44. Officials believe Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, who was also killed in the shooting, was an associate of the suspect in custody.
Villalba died at the scene of the shooting, and Whitehead died after being transported to a hospital. The wounded included a 2-year-old boy, who authorities said was listed in “satisfactory condition.”
Seattle authorities now believe three people fired in the shooting, according to court documents reviewed by the New York Times and Associated Press. The three suspects include: the 15-year-old boy taken into custody, Semo and an additional “unknown suspect.”
The medical examiner’s office reported Whitehead died of a gunshot wound to the pelvis and Villalba of a gunshot wound to the torso. Semo died of multiple gunshot wounds, the office said.
As of July 27, medical staff had discharged three adults taken to hospitals, said Susan Gregg, a spokesperson for the University of Washington School of Medicine, including a 23-year-old man and 39-year-old woman from Harborview Medical Center. At UW Medical Center-Montlake, medical staff discharged a 27-year-old man.
A 40-year-old woman with minor injuries was treated at the scene, but she wasn’t transported to a hospital.
Police say the shooting was likely ‘gang related’
Seattle Police Assistant Chief of Investigation Nicole Powell said in an update on the evening of July 27 that police believe the shooting was “gang related.”
“There were two groups firing in the area,” Powell told reporters.
She noted the information released is preliminary, and the investigation of the shooting continues.
What do we know about the Seattle shooting suspects?
Wilson said that Seattle police had detained the 15-year-old boy in connection to the shooting on firearm and assault charges after the teenager allegedly fired into the crowd outside the Seattle Center Armory. The teen appeared in court the afternoon of July 27 for his first appearance. Police said he surrendered himself to authorities.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, who also addressed reporters, urged people who witnessed the shooting to contact police.
“We need to figure out who that other person is,” Barnes said.
Authorities confirmed they recovered two firearms from the scene and said they believed the incident stemmed from a shoot-out.
So far, Wilson said no homicide charges had been filed in the case. The mayor said investigators were in the process of reviewing video surveillance from the area.
‘Worst moment of their lives’
Wilson described the shootings as “an act of horrific violence” that shook the region.
“Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire,” she said.
Founded in 1982, Bite of Seattle has been a summer tradition in the Northwest for over 40 years and features more than 130 food and beverage vendors, along with live cooking demos, live music and other activities.
Prophetic Link:
“Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.” Desire of Ages 636.1