Seattle Festival Shooting: Teen Had Ghost Gun as Police Hunt Third Suspect
A 15-year-old arrested after the deadly shooting at Seattle's Bite of Seattle food festival was carrying a Polymer80 ghost gun with a 33-round extended magazine, police have said, as new details emerged about the gunfight that left three people dead and four others injured, including a two-year-old child.
The shooting happened around 6 pm on Sunday outside the Seattle Center Armory, near the Space Needle, during the busy annual food festival. Police now believe at least three people opened fire, changing their earlier view that only two shooters were involved.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said officers recovered three firearms from the scene. Along with the ghost gun, they found a Glock pistol fitted with an illegal auto sear, allowing automatic fire, and a .45 calibre pistol that investigators believe was not fired. Police also recovered 14 spent shell casings from two different calibres. None of the guns are believed to have been stolen.
Court documents say the 15-year-old, 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, who died during the exchange of gunfire, and at least one unidentified suspect were involved. Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage and videos shared by witnesses as they search for the remaining suspect.
The teenager remains in juvenile detention and is due to appear in court on July 30. He is currently being investigated for firearms offences and first-degree assault, while prosecutors consider additional charges. Police believe the shooting was likely gang-related, though the motive is still under investigation.
The victims have been identified as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba (44), Ashley Whitehead (56) and Junior Cee Niko Semo (19). The four injured victims have been discharged from hospital. Seattle authorities have announced a USD 5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the remaining suspect.
Ghost guns are privately assembled firearms without serial numbers, making them difficult for police to trace.