NEWTOWN, Conn. – Three people were killed and four others were injured after two suspects began shooting at each other at a crowded annual food festival near the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. The youngest of the injured victims is just two years old and is hospitalized in stable condition. All of the other victims are adults.
Hundreds of vendors and attendees fled as the shooting occurred. Police have arrested one suspect and are searching for the other. The reason for the shootout is unknown.
The state of Washington has endured at least four mass shootings in which four or more people were injured or killed since the start of 2026, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Nationwide, there have been at least 271 mass shootings in 2026.
In response, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“Our hearts break for the victims and their loved ones, and for the Seattle community as a whole. A festive gathering that should have been filled with joy, family, and connection was shattered in an instant by gun violence, turned into a scene of panic and terror. How many times must we watch families run for their lives before we say enough?
“I am deeply saddened, but I am also furious. A two-year-old toddler – a baby – is in a hospital bed today because adults couldn’t resolve a dispute without pulling triggers in a crowd.
“It is infuriating that our society continues to accept this. Gun violence is a crisis fueled by inaction and indifference. Parents should never have to consider the potential for bloodshed when they bring their babies to a community gathering.
“We cannot let our grief turn into numbness, and we cannot let our anger go to waste. We must channel this outrage into action: by recognizing the warning signs of violence, speaking up before firearms are drawn, and demanding that our leaders implement proven safety measures to protect our children. We stand with the Seattle community, but solidarity alone is not enough – we need action now.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
###
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279