Seattle pays tribute to festival shooting victims
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Three people were killed and four injured in a deadly gunfight at Seattle's annual Bite of Seattle food festival on Sunday, prompting a citywide mourning and a candlelight vigil attended by the mayor and police chief.
- The victims were identified as Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, and Ashley Whitehead, 56; Villalba and Whitehead's families have launched GoFundMe campaigns to cover funeral expenses and honor their memories.
- Whitehead was fatally shot while waiting in line with her daughter, and her family highlighted her recent move to Seattle to be closer to her children; Villalba was remembered as a devoted husband and father of three.
- Police believe Semo was involved in the gunfight; one suspect is in custody while another remains at large, as authorities continue investigating the incident.
- The shooting occurred on the final day of the three-day festival, which typically attracts around 350,000 attendees, leading city leaders to condemn the violence and call for action against gun violence.
