The three people killed in the mass shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle festival have been identified as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Officials said all three died from gunshot wounds and their deaths have been ruled homicides. Sanchez Villalba and Semo were pronounced dead at the scene, while Whitehead died later at Harborview Medical Center after being taken to hospital. All three were residents of Seattle.
The shooting unfolded at about 6:00 pm on Sunday during the annual Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center, near the Space Needle. Thousands of people were attending the event when gunfire erupted, prompting crowds to flee and seek shelter across the 74-acre venue.
Seattle police said a 15-year-old boy was arrested after investigators determined that at least three people had opened fire, including Semo, whom authorities identified as one of the shooters. Police are continuing to search for another suspected gunman.
A King County judge on Monday ordered the teenager to remain in secure detention. Judge Tanya L. Thorp found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The teenager waived his appearance in court.
According to a police report filed with the court, detectives believe the 15-year-old and Semo exchanged gunfire during the incident and that “at least one other unknown suspect” was also involved in the shootout.
The report states that a police sergeant responding to the sound of gunfire saw the teenager firing a handgun into the crowd from less than 100 feet away. The officer detained the boy and recovered a handgun “on his person”, according to the report.
Police said an associate of the teenager died from gunshot wounds. Officers also found three injured people in the direction the teenager had allegedly been firing, including one person who had been riding a bicycle.
Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said on Sunday that investigators do not believe the outstanding suspect poses a continuing threat to the general public, but did not provide further details.
During Monday’s hearing, defence attorney Hong Tran argued there was insufficient evidence in the probable cause statement to support three counts of first-degree assault.
“Innocent bystanders were struck,” prosecutor Logan Bryant told the court, arguing that the teenager posed a threat to the community.
Judge Thorp ordered that the teenager have no contact with Seattle Center or any of the victims.
Four other people were injured in the shooting, including a two-year-old boy who remained in satisfactory condition at Harborview Medical Center. Two other adults have since been discharged from hospital, while another woman was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Separately, a 27-year-old man later arrived at the University of Washington Medical Center with a gunshot wound. Police have not confirmed whether his injuries were connected to the Seattle Center shooting.
Under Washington law, prosecutors may seek a discretionary decline hearing to determine whether the 15-year-old should be tried as an adult. The process can take months or, in some cases, years, as the court considers factors including the seriousness of the alleged offence, the teenager’s maturity, prior criminal history and the need to protect the public.
The Bite of Seattle is one of Seattle Center’s largest annual events, attracting more than 280,000 visitors last year. Witnesses described scenes of panic as hundreds of festivalgoers ran for safety after gunfire broke out.