Seattle Center suspect, 15, held; 1 alleged shooter dead, third at large

Lauren Girgis, The Seattle Times on Jul 27, 2026

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SEATTLE — A King County judge decided to hold a 15-year-old boy in detention in connection with the Seattle Center shooting that left three dead and four others injured, including a toddler.

Police believe two people were shooting at each other at the annual Bite of Seattle food festival, and a police report filed with the court on Monday stated detectives believe one of the deceased was in a gunfight with the 15-year-old. Police believe there is “at least one other unknown suspect” who was part of the gunfight, according to the police report.

The teen waived his presence in court on Monday. Judge Tanya L. Thorp found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree illegally possessing a firearm, and she ruled the teen will remain in secure detention.

The Seattle Times does not typically name juvenile suspects unless they are charged as adults.

A 19-year-old man and 44-year-old man were declared dead at the scene. A 56-year-old woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she died. A woman, 30, had minor injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene. A 39-year-old woman was taken to the hospital and has since been discharged. A 23-year-old man who was injured has also been discharged. The 2-year-old boy who was hurt remained at Harborview in satisfactory condition.

Additionally, a 27-year-old man reported to University of Washington Medical Center later that night with a gunshot wound. It remains unclear if he was injured in the Bite of Seattle shooting.

In a police report filed Monday with the court, a police sergeant allegedly followed the gunshots at 6 p.m. Sunday and saw a boy with a handgun firing into the crowd, less than 100 feet from the officer. The sergeant took the boy into custody and found a handgun “on his person,” according to the report.

An “associate” of the teen died from gunshot wounds, according to the report. In the direction the teen had been pointing his gun, officers initially found three wounded people, one of whom had been riding a bicycle, according to the statement.

Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said Sunday night that investigators do not believe the other suspect poses a threat to the general public, but did not elaborate.

Hong Tran, an attorney for the teen, argued there is insufficient information in the probable cause statement to support three counts of first-degree assault.

“Innocent bystanders were struck,” prosecutor Logan Bryant argued, arguing the teen poses a threat to the community.

Thorp ruled the teen must not contact the Seattle Center or the victims.

The 15-year-old suspect was booked for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault, Wilson said. The age of the suspect will likely lead to a long and complicated legal process.

Because of two decades of a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions that found young people are considered less culpable for criminal behavior, 16- and 17-year-olds charged with murder and certain other serious violent offenses can be automatically charged as adults. A “discretionary decline hearing” is required before younger teens can be charged in adult court.

In filing charges, prosecutors could seek the decline hearing, in which they would argue the juvenile court should decline jurisdiction and have the case transferred to adult court.

This triggers a monthslong, and sometimes yearslong, defense investigation into the circumstances of the case and the juvenile’s life.

A similar course of proceedings has played out over the last two years in the case of a then 15-year-old arrested for allegedly fatally shooting five family members, prosecutors say. The court has still not determined whether that teen will be tried as an adult or juvenile, as the decline hearing in that case has been pushed repeatedly for further investigation by both parties.

Among the factors the judge must consider: the seriousness of the alleged offense; the sophistication and maturity of the juvenile; the prospects for adequate protection of the public; and the juvenile’s prior run-ins with the law.

The Bite of Seattle — which has taken place at Seattle Center for decades — is one of the campus’ busiest annual events. Last year’s festival drew 282,000 people, according to Seattle Center’s impact report.

Witnesses of the shooting described chaos as hundreds of people ran from the area upon hearing two rounds of gunfire. Some took shelter in nearby businesses.

The teen’s next court appearance will be an arraignment, set for 9 a.m. Thursday.

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