A mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival left at least two people dead and five others wounded, plunging a busy civic event into chaos as bystanders and vendors raced for cover.

The Bite of Seattle was winding down on its final day when shots rang out, turning what had been a festive crowd into a scene of panic and confusion. Attendees described a sudden stampede and vendors reporting they heard what sounded like firecrackers before the situation escalated. Emergency crews arrived quickly and began treating multiple victims on site.

Authorities later confirmed two fatalities and five people with gunshot injuries, including very young and elderly victims among those struck. Officials provided approximate ages for several patients and said Harborview received the most serious cases. At least one person has been arrested in connection with the incident, and investigators are working to piece together a timeline of events.

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First responders performed lifesaving efforts on two patients but were unable to save them, according to public statements. Other injured people included a 2-year-old boy, a 40-year-old woman, a 39-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 56-year-old woman. Medical teams described the 56-year-old as in serious condition while others were stabilized or declined transport.

Two people were killed and at least five others were injured in a shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday night as the civic center complex hosted a major food festival.

Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Grace Nuñez said that its first responders attempted lifesaving efforts for two patients but were unsuccessful.

The others injured were described as a 2-year-old boy, a 40-year-old woman; a 39-year-old woman; a 23-year-old man; and a 56-year-old woman. The 56-year-old woman was said to be in serious condition at Harborview, the 40-year-old woman had minor injuries and declined to be transported to the hospital, and the rest of the patients were stabilized at Harborview.

Nuñez said the patients’ ages were approximate.

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The Bite of Seattle food festival was wrapping up its annual event Sunday, the final of its three days. It wasn’t clear whether the event was involved in the shooting. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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“There’s bodies everywhere,” he said of those on the ground who appeared to be injured. “I mean, I counted eight.”

Paul Skinner was helping to operate a Bite of Seattle booth when chaos erupted, he said.

“We just heard what at first sounded like firecrackers, but it’s just a little too crowded for that kind of thing,” he told KING. “So then, when the crowd started moving quickly in herds, you knew it was something was happening.”

Witnesses painted a chaotic picture: people running, parents scooping up children, and vendors shuttering booths to hide customers and themselves. Several attendees said they initially mistook the gunfire for celebratory noises because of the crowds and ongoing music. Those on the scene reported seeing people on the ground and described law enforcement and medics working amid overturned tables and scattered belongings.

Organizers have not been quoted here and initial reports left open whether the festival itself was a direct target. The festival was a three-day event scheduled to finish that night, and the sudden violence cut short what had been a major local draw. Investigators are focusing on statements from witnesses and available footage to determine how the attack unfolded and whether multiple shooters were involved.

Emergency response emphasized rapid triage and transport for the critically wounded, while nearby hospitals activated trauma protocols. Harborview received several of the injured, and local EMS units described a coordinated effort to prioritize the most severe cases. Authorities noted that ages given were approximate and that some victims declined transport after brief on-site evaluation.

Community leaders expressed shock and sympathy as the city absorbed news of the violence at a family-oriented event. Events like this are meant to bring people together, and the sudden loss of life has left organizers, vendors, and attendees grappling with grief and unanswered questions. Law enforcement asked anyone with video or information to come forward to aid the investigation.

For now, the scene remains an active investigation, and officials continue to release details as they confirm them. One person has been arrested.

This is a developing news story. We’ll keep you updated.