A 15-year-old was arrested after shots rang out at a food festival on Sunday – hours later, some vendors hung around, wondering when they would be allowed to return to collect their belongings
A 15-year-old has been arrested over a shooting at a food festival in which three people have lost their lives.
At least four others sustained injuries in the shooting near Seattle’s Space Needle over the weekend.
“Shortly after 6pm last night, officers responded to the sound of gunfire,” the city’s mayor Katie Wilson said on Monday.
“They… were on scene within seconds and took one suspect into custody.”
A 19-year-old man, 44-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman lost their lives.
A 15-year-old was detained by police in connection with the shooting.
It is believed two people exchanged gunfire outside the Seattle Center Armory.
“We believe this teenager opened fire in the crowd but details are still under investigation,” said Ms Wilson.
The search for a possible second suspect is ongoing.
Faith Adia Hunter, who was at the food festival, said she and her friends had purchased food from crepe vendor when gunfire broke out.
She realised a gunman was nearby and took off running.
“We were right next to him when it started so we took off running,” she recalled.
“So we took off running too into the building with the crowd.”
She and others sought shelter in the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum.
Many vendors ran for the exits, abandoning their stands.
Hours later, some hung around near the location of the incident, wondering when they would be allowed to return to collect their belongings.
Roberto Ramirez, a vendor at the event, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers before people began yelling “shooter” and frantically running.
“Suddenly everything was empty,” he recalled.
“People were freaked out.”