A 15-year-old boy involved in a shooting during the Bite of Seattle festival claims he acted in self-defense. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, which resulted in three deaths. The teenager fired a handgun after being targeted by two unidentified suspects, his attorney stated in court documents. The attack left four individuals wounded, including a toddler.
Police categorized the event as a gang-related shootout, resulting in the deaths of 19-year-old Niko-Semo and a man and woman aged 44 and 56, respectively. As of now, the teen is the sole individual charged in this case.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office indicated no other suspects have been brought forward by the police. However, there are two persons of interest identified from extensive video footage, according to Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles.
Despite being captured by eyewitnesses pulling out a firearm in response, the teen’s attorney says the witnesses corroborate his claim of self-defense.
Prosecutors argue the teen’s actions were reckless, emphasizing the danger posed by firing into a crowded area. He faces charges of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful firearm possession, with a sentencing enhancement due to the weapon.
His weapon was identified as a Polymer80 gun with a large-capacity magazine. Investigators are testing multiple firearms recovered at the scene to pinpoint other actors involved in the shooting.
Requests to release the teenager to electronic monitoring were declined by the court. He remains in custody, awaiting further hearings. This incident has prompted scrutiny over city communication delays and emergency response protocols. The police chief’s resignation followed shortly after.