Shooting kills three, wounds four in Seattle

A shooting near the Space Needle in Seattle killed three people on Sunday and wounded at least four others including a toddler, officials said.

Seattle Police said one suspect was arrested and they were searching for another following the incident at a food festival in a popular tourist district of the northwestern US city.

Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said shots were heard around 6:00 pm (0100 GMT) and 'there were two people who we believe were shooting at each other.' Two weapons were recovered.

He stated there is 'no outstanding threat to the community.'

Seattle Police said two people died at the scene at the Seattle Center and a third died in hospital.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said State Patrol SWAT officers had been deployed to assist local police.

He said on X: 'My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe.'

Mayor Katie Wilson called the shooting 'an act of horrific violence.'

In a statement, she said: 'Our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them.'

Wilson also expressed thanks to 'the Seattle police officers who responded to the scene and took a suspect into custody.'

Four patients were being treated at Harborview Medical Center's trauma center, according to spokesperson Susan Gregg: a child, a woman of unknown age who was in surgery, a 23-year-old man, and a 39-year-old woman.

One of them did not survive their injuries, Davis said, without identifying the victim.

Another victim later arrived at the University of Washington Medical Center with a gunshot wound, per Davis.

Those still in hospital, including the toddler, were in a 'stable condition,' he said.

Several witnesses told Seattle TV station KIRO they heard multiple shots before fleeing.

Nick Bate told the station: 'At first, I thought there were fireworks, and then everybody flooded and ran past us.'

A witness told AFP: 'We started running. I didn't know. I didn't look where the person was going. I just heard everything.'

The shooting occurred during the 'Bite of Seattle' summer festival, which celebrates local businesses and food vendors.