Police tape blocks off the scene of a fatal shooting during the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center. (EPA Images pic)SEATTLE: Seattle mayor Katie Wilson said police detained a 15-year-old suspect after a Sunday shooting in which three people were killed and others were wounded. At least two people exchanged gunfire at the event, Wilson said in a news conference Monday afternoon.
The second of those two people, age 19, is among the deceased, Wilson said.Assistant Police chief Nicole Powell said the two appear to have been associates. Officers are also looking for a possible third involved individual, Powell said. The Associated Press cited court documents to report that there were at least three shooters.The shooting happened during the Bite of Seattle festival, a free event featuring food vendors, live music and a beer garden near the city’s iconic Space Needle just north of downtown.
Police chief Shon Barnes said earlier Monday police staffing was “adequate,” and vowed to bring “all of those who may be involved to justice.”In addition to the two who died at the scene, a third died at the hospital, police said Sunday night. At least three other people were treated for gunshot wounds, including a toddler.“The problem of gun violence is worsened by small groups - we have small groups that appear to be at odds with each other,” Barnes said. “The department alone cannot fix the issue of gun violence.
We need the entire system, the entire community to come together to address this.”Both Wilson and Barnes responded to pointed questions Monday morning after the mayor’s initial statement Sunday night erroneously said there were two suspects in custody and was corrected without explanation.Reporters also voiced frustration that the first communication to media at the scene Sunday night was more than five hours after the shooting because assistant chief Tyrone Davis said officers were awaiting on the arrival of “dignitaries.”Mayor Wilson, Washington governor Bob Ferguson and US representative Pramila Jayapal were with Davis when he eventually briefed reporters Sunday night shortly before 11pm. Wilson said they were advised to stay away from the scene until they were called for the press conference.Local media again raised questions Monday afternoon after court documents filed during the day contained more information about the shooting than Wilson and pol…
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