3 killed in shooting during a festival in Washington D.C.

Three people have died and four others, including a two-year-old boy, have been injured in a shooting that occurred during a popular food and cultural festival held in Seattle, Washington State, USA. This shocking incident was reported in the final hours of the "Bite of Seattle" exhibition, organized at the Seattle Center campus last Sunday afternoon.

Police confirm that a reciprocal exchange of gunfire between two individuals near the International Children's Fountain and the Armory complex, located near the famous Space Needle tower, caused this tragedy.

Police officers on security duty at the festival grounds immediately acted and managed to arrest one young suspect at the scene. The suspect surrendered following the officers' announcement, while the other suspect involved in the incident has fled the area. Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis stated that although specific information about the escaped suspect has not yet been revealed, there is no further threat to the public. Investigators were able to find two firearms at the scene of the incident.

The shooting caused widespread fear and unrest throughout the festival grounds. Faced with successive gunshots, the large crowd present tried to flee in all directions, with people overturning strollers and jumping over safety fences to save their lives. Some initially mistook the sounds for fireworks. Estaan Waconabo, a 25-year-old eyewitness, stated that he and his girlfriend were near a photo booth when they saw people screaming and running, and injured individuals lying on the ground. Additionally, an 18-year-old festival worker named Isaiah helped children over fences to send them to safe locations.

Two people died at the scene, and a 56-year-old woman who was admitted to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries later died. The condition of the four injured individuals, including the two-year-old boy, a 23-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman who underwent surgery, and a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries, is currently stable. It has not yet been revealed whether the shot individuals were involved in the altercation or merely innocent bystanders caught in it.

Following the tragedy, the Seattle Center campus was immediately evacuated, and the nearby Monorail transportation service was temporarily suspended. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson strongly condemned the incident, calling it an unbelievable act of destructive violence, while public representatives, including Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, also expressed their condolences to the victims. Several investigative agencies, including the FBI and ATF, have jointly launched a comprehensive investigation into this crime, and operations to find the second suspect have been expedited by examining nearby camera footage. This is considered the first time such a violent incident has been reported at this famous cultural festival, which has been held annually since the early 1980s.