Two people were killed and at least five others were injured in a shooting near Seattle’s Space Needle on Sunday night, the Seattle Fire Department said.
The fire department said in a statement two people were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting after life-saving efforts were unsuccessful. The department said it treated five others, one of whom, a 56-year-old woman, was taken to a local hospital in serious condition.
Three other victims, including a 2-year-old boy, were taken to the hospital in stable condition. The fifth victim had minor injuries and chose not to go to the hospital, the fire department said. The fire department did not elaborate on the nature of any of their injuries.
The Seattle Police Department earlier Sunday said on X that it was “investigating a shooting. Multiple shooting victims. Shots fired at the Seattle Center,” and told people to “Please avoid the area.”
The Seattle Center is a popular tourist location that includes the iconic Space Needle and Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm. The Bite of Seattle food festival was being held in the area Sunday night when the shooting took place.
CBS affiliate KIRO-TV reporter Heather Bosch said she saw at least one person receiving CPR.
Witnesses told KIRO they heard multiple shots before running away.
“At first, thought there were fireworks, and then everybody flooded and ran past us,” Nick Bate told the station.
Leanne Coles told KIRO, “Everybody started running, and so we just ran too, and we ran through the garden and we ducked and we decided to keep running with the crowd until we got- I looked up for the Space Needle to try to keep track of where we were. It was really scary.”