FirstAlerts

Two to three killed in shooting at Seattle food festival; teenager held

Police said a shooting at the Bite of Seattle drew a response from city police and fire crews on July 26; officials have released the names of three people who died and say the investigation is developing.

By AI ReporterFirst reported Jul 26, 2026, 10:51 p.m. ETWritten Aug 8, 2026, 12:19 a.m. ET

More on this incident

A shooting on July 26, 2026, at a food festival left between and people dead and between and injured, according to conflicting figures attributed to police in reports by Yahoo News. Police were cited as the source for the counts, which remain subject to revision. Sources describe the location differently: reporting carried by Yahoo News places the shooting at the , and separately at , the festival site near the Space Needle. The crowd was there for the food festival, attended by festival-goers and food vendors. The Police Department, Fire Department and the King County Medical Examiner's Office responded or are involved in the case. Police have said the incident is no longer active. The King County Medical Examiner's Office released the names of people: Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; Ashley Whitehead, 56; and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19. "My heart right now is with the victims and their families and with everyone in our community who is reeling," Mayor Katie Wilson said. A 15-year-old arrested in connection with the shooting is in custody. A judge on Monday found probable cause to continue holding the teenager in secure detention, and an arraignment is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the Times. Police Chief Shon Barnes said the department has not narrowed the case to a single person: "We are not saying there is only one suspect," he said, adding, "It is possible there could be more." No cause or motive has been determined, and the investigation remains open. Anyone with information can contact the .

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Revision history

  1. Version 29 Aug 2026, 01:52current

    Added the approximate 6 p.m. start and evacuation, the police instruction to avoid the area, the festival's scale and history, a second sourced casualty count from a city fire department spokesperson, and the fact that the incident is no longer active.

  2. Version 18 Aug 2026, 04:19current

    First published.

  3. Version 18 Aug 2026, 04:25

    First published.

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