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Seattle police say teen arrested in festival shooting had a ghost gun
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- A 15-year-old was arrested after a shootout at Seattle’s Bite of Seattle food festival, armed with a 9mm Polymer80 ghost gun equipped with an extended 33-round magazine; police recovered two other weapons and 14 shell casings from different calibers at the scene.
- The shooting resulted in three deaths, including a 19-year-old gunman, and four injuries, among them a toddler; authorities believe the violence was gang-related and are investigating multiple suspects, including at least three shooters.
- Ghost guns, like the one used by the teen, lack serial numbers and are often purchased without background checks; Polymer80, a major ghost gun parts manufacturer, went out of business in 2024 following lawsuits and regulatory changes.
- The victims included Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba (44), Ashley Whitehead (56), and Junior Cee Niko Semo (19), who were remembered by family and community members for their kindness and free-spirited nature; four wounded individuals, including a toddler, were treated and discharged from the hospital.
- Police continue to seek information from an eighth person with a possible gunshot wound who left the hospital before an interview and are reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements to identify additional suspects.
