Latest Bite Seattle Shooting News | FOX 13 Seattle

Seafair details new security as Seattle mourns deadly shooting

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:59:23 -0700

As Seattle prepares for another weekend of large public gatherings, many people are asking the same question following the deadly mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle: Is it safe to attend?

For Seafair President and CEO Emily Cantrell, that question is deeply personal.

Just days after three people were killed and several others were wounded outside the Seattle Center Armory, Cantrell outlined the security measures already in place for Seafair Weekend and acknowledged the fear many attendees may be feeling.

Meanwhile, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes says officers will increase staffing at major events throughout the remainder of the summer.

Seafair says enhanced security was already planned

Cantrell said safety planning has been a priority long before Sunday's shooting.

"The mass shooting at Seattle Center is an event organizer's worst nightmare. It's something that we take very seriously…I am a survivor of our country's deadliest mass shooting."

That experience, she said, has shaped how she approaches every event.

Among this year's security measures, "this year, we have a weapons detection system that is at every single entrance."

Seafair officials say every person entering the event will pass through the screening system. The organization also expects at least 200 law enforcement officers from the Seattle Police Department and partner agencies to help secure Seafair Weekend.

Seattle police plan increased staffing

Following Sunday's shooting, Barnes said Seattle police are adjusting security plans for upcoming outdoor events.

"We know that the summer is not over. We still have outside events. We still have concerts, festivals, and big group gatherings," Barnes said. "I want to assure you that we will be upstaffing these events throughout the course of the summer."

Barnes did not provide specifics about how staffing levels will increase or whether additional security measures will be implemented at future events.

He said the department is already using intelligence-led policing to identify potential threats before violence occurs.

"We have our gun violence reduction unit. They take the lead on most of those cases, as well as our intelligence unit," Barnes said. "We do most of it during our two gun screening calls that we do on Mondays and Thursdays, where we're analyzing where gun violence is, any potential flare-ups, and making sure that we're monitoring people who may be actively using weapons or even have warrants to make sure that we can get those persons into custody."

FOX 13 has asked Seattle police for more details about what increased staffing will look like at upcoming concerts, festivals and other large public gatherings.

'I don't blame them'

Cantrell said she understands why many people may now question whether they want to attend large public events.

"I don't blame them if they feel like their sense of safety was shattered and they never want to go to another event again," Cantrell said.

Still, she believes strongly in the safety plans she says have been in the works for over the last year.

"I would not feel comfortable inviting friends and family or the general public out to one of our events if I didn't think we were doing everything we could."

Cantrell also urged attendees to be patient as additional security measures may increase wait times.

"But if there are long lines, please understand why we're doing this and know it is for your own safety," Cantrell said.

Investigation continues

Seattle police say the shooting outside the Seattle Center Armory was a targeted, gang-related exchange of gunfire between at least two people.

Three people were killed, including a 19-year-old suspect who police say was involved in the shooting. Investigators say the other victims who were killed and injured were innocent bystanders.

The investigation remains active, and detectives continue reviewing surveillance video, interviewing witnesses and asking anyone with information to contact Seattle police.

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Seattle leaders join vigil for Seattle Center shooting victims

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:47:28 -0700

Seattle leaders and community members joined a vigil for the people who lost their lives in a shooting at Seattle Center.

Gunfire erupted during the Bite of Seattle food festival on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of three people and leaving five others hurt.

Among those killed were 44-year-old Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, who died at the scene, and 56-year-old Ashley Whitehead, who later died in the hospital. The third victim, 19-year-old Junior Semo, was identified as one of the suspected shooters.

On Monday night, a vigil was held at the International Fountain in Seattle Center, led by Arron Murphy-Paine, the father of Amarr Murphy-Paine, who lost his life to gun violence outside Garfield High School in 2024.

Murphy-Paine started the vigil by addressing the crowd, giving his condolences to all the victims and the families who are forever impacted by the tragic events of Sunday.

"I just want to give condolences to all the victims of gun violence that this city has experienced. I want to give condolences to the families that lost lives yesterday. The humans that were injured, the children that were involved, everybody," Murphy-Paine said. "They weren'tt doing anything that would cost them their lives but enjoying the Bite of Seattle."

Later, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson took the megaphone, expressing outrage over the situation and concurring with the crowd that more has to be done.

"This is not acceptable. And I see you. No father, no parent should have to bury their child," Wilson said, turning to Murphy-Paine. "This is not something we can keep let happening in our community. And I'm not here to talk about policies or programs, there's plenty of time for that. I'm here right now to express commitment, to express solidarity, to say that I stand with you."

Seattle police Chief Shon Barnes also spoke at the vigil, reiterating his dedication to protecting the Seattle community.

"I understand my role and my responsibility in the city of Seattle. And that is my commitment to you. To the family members to do better. To be better collaborators. To create more community. To create safer communities for our kids and adults to grow up in this amazing city. And all that it has to offer. I internalize everything. I take my job very, very seriously. I want you to know we are with you today. This police department is part of your community. And we commit to being better each and every day with the help and support of the people standing behind me," Barnes said.

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay got emotional while discussing the victims of the shooting, saying the two-year-old who was shot hit too close to home.

"We do have to imagine what it's like to not have one of your loved ones at the dinner table. We do have to imagine what it's like to run away during a time when you were supposed to be experiencing joy and instead experience terror. It's something that none of us ever deserve to experience," Zahilay said. "The moment I read a two-year-old was shot. It's tough man. We both have two year olds."

Additionally, the cousins of Ashley Whitehead, Michelle and Judy, spoke at the vigil about her life, which came to a tragic end on Sunday.

"She had a great sense of humor. Very colorful person. I would consider her an artist, a creative type and a free spirit. She loved the fredom that the state offered her," said Michelle Whitehead, a cousin of one of the victims.

"They were calling to tell me my cousin had been shot. And I just kind of went into a different state of mind, I guess an alternate state of mind. It just felt slow motion and not real. It didn't feel real until probably this morning. I had a few hours of sleep but it just felt like I was living in someone else's body, someone else's life. This couldn't be real. That the one time she came here, she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"This is not the way to do it. To take people's lives, this is not the way. This is a terrible travesty for a lot of people. And the people who passed away, the people that were involved, and then the trauma for the families, and then having this event and people being that scared, it's terrible. It shouldn't have happened at all," said Judy Whitehead.

Another community vigil will be held by the City of Seattle on Wednesday. More details about the second vigil will be released at a later date.

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