A judge has ordered a 15-year-old to remain in juvenile detention following a shooting at a Seattle food festival. The incident resulted in three deaths and injured at least four others. Prosecutors revealed that the gunfight involved the teenager, a 19-year-old man who died at the scene, and possibly a third individual. There is speculation that the shooting might be gang-related.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson stated that the police are continuing their investigation to determine the number of people involved. ‘We now know that at least two individuals exchanged gunfire outside the Seattle Center Armory. One is in custody, and the second has been identified as the deceased 19-year-old,’ Wilson said during a news conference. The police will examine video footage, bullet casings, and other leads from tip lines to clarify the incident.
The 15-year-old, held on suspicion of three counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, had not previously faced any criminal charges in the county. Public defender Hong Tran declined to comment on the case. Prosecutors expect to receive initial information from the police investigation by Wednesday to make a formal charging decision.
Officials described the 15-year-old and the 19-year-old as ‘associates.’ The fatal shooting occurred near the Museum of Pop Culture, in the vicinity of the Bite of Seattle food festival. Nicole Powell, assistant chief of investigations for the Seattle Police Department, remarked, ‘At this point, we believe this could be gang-related. There were two groups firing.’
A police officer witnessed the 15-year-old firing a handgun into the crowd, as per a probable cause affidavit. Shortly after the shooting, police took the teen into custody and detained the 19-year-old, who eventually succumbed to a gunshot wound.
The King County medical examiner provided the names of the deceased: Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, died from multiple gunshot wounds; Ashley Whitehead, 56, died from a gunshot wound to the pelvis; Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, died from a gunshot wound to the torso. Four others wounded were reported to be stable. Officers discovered three victims in the area where the 15-year-old allegedly fired, including a 2-year-old child and someone pushing a bicycle.
Witnesses, some initially mistaking gunshots for firecrackers, described chaotic scenes as dozens fled. A video shared on social media shows attendees running from gunfire and taking cover. Food vendor Hana Kim, witnessing the events, ensured her parents’ safety. ‘My first instinct was to make sure my parents were safe,’ she said, emphasizing they had no time to hesitate.
Kim, who traveled from New York to assist her family at the event, recounted hitting the ground to shield herself, resulting in a knee injury. Prioritizing her family’s safety, she helped usher her parents and others to safety. Despite the turmoil, many left behind their belongings, with grills still cooking food.
Following the incident, Kim received a call from a woman who had taken refuge at her stall, expressing gratitude for the family’s protection. The phone call was moving but also a reminder of the lingering shock. ‘It was sobering receiving that call, because, honestly, all of us are still in shock,’ Kim shared.