At least two people were killed and five others, including a two-year-old child, were injured in a shooting at a food festival in downtown Seattle on Sunday, authorities said.
The shooting occurred at the Bite of Seattle festival, held at the Seattle Center near the city’s iconic Space Needle.
Police urged the public to avoid the area while officers responded to the incident and launched an investigation.
“Multiple shooting victims. Shots fired at the Seattle Center,” the Seattle Police Department said in a post on X.
The Seattle Times and local broadcaster KOMO, citing the Seattle Fire Department, reported the death toll and the number of people injured. Witnesses told the newspaper they heard several gunshots at around 6 p.m. local time (0100 GMT).
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the shooting, describing it as “an act of horrific violence,” and confirmed that a suspect had been taken into custody.
“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,” Wilson said in a statement.