Juvenile Charged After Seattle Food Festival Shooting

Authorities are investigating a deadly shootout at a Seattle food festival where a 15-year-old boy claims he fired in self-defense. The incident occurred at the Bite of Seattle on July 26, resulting in three deaths and four injuries, including a young child.

The teen allegedly shot after two unidentified individuals began firing at him and his friend. Witnesses reported chaos among attendees near the Seattle Center Armory.

Police labeled the event as gang-related, with innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Among the deceased were a 19-year-old, a 44-year-old, and a 56-year-old. Currently, the teen is the only person charged.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office mentioned that Seattle Police have not presented any other cases linked to the shooting. Police Chief Andre Sayles stated they identified two persons of interest, but it’s unclear if they were involved in the shooting.

The teen’s defense claims he was fired upon first, backing his action with witness testimonies. His attorney highlighted that eyewitnesses confirmed the boy’s claim, indicating he retrieved a firearm after the chaos started.

Despite the teen’s self-defense claim, prosecutors argued he acted recklessly, endangering many at the festival. The teen was charged with first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful firearm possession.

The teen’s firearm is identified as a Polymer80 ‘ghost gun,’ without a serial number, equipped with an extended magazine. Several guns were found at the scene, undergoing inspection to ascertain further involvement.

Requests to release the teen under electronic monitoring were denied by a judge. Public scrutiny followed after slow city updates and non-use of emergency alerts post-incident. The police chief resigned following the mayor’s request.

The teen’s next hearing is scheduled for October. Prosecutors plan to request the case be moved to adult court in November.