SEATTLE — About 100 people gathered Monday evening at Seattle Center’s International Fountain to honor the victims of the deadly mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival that left three people dead and four others injured.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Police Chief Shon Barnes and community members attended the vigil, which focused on healing and supporting those affected by Sunday’s violence.
Organizers and speakers called for an end to gun violence and urged the community to unite in the wake of the tragedy. While no one who spoke publicly said they personally knew the victims, several advocacy groups addressed the crowd.
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The vigil concluded with three minutes of silence, a prayer and a community rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.”
The gathering came hours after city and police leaders held a second news conference to provide updates on the investigation and respond to criticism over the flow of information in the hours following the shooting.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the three people killed as Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19; Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; and Ashley Whitehead, 56.
Semo died from multiple gunshot wounds. Sanchez Villalba died from a gunshot wound to the torso, while Whitehead died at a hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the pelvis.
Seattle police said they believe the shooting was gang-related and that investigators now believe Semo was one of at least two people who exchanged gunfire.
A 15-year-old boy remains in custody on suspicion of first-degree assault and firearms violations. Detectives are continuing to identify and locate a third person believed to have been involved in the shooting, and Mayor Katie Wilson said no one has been formally arrested for investigation of homicide.
Court documents released Monday allege three people were involved in a gunfight that broke out in the middle of the festival.
“Based on the evidence at the scene, investigators believe [the 15-year-old suspect] and one of the deceased engaged in a gunfight with at least one other unknown suspect,” the court documents state.
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Wilson confirmed investigators are reviewing Seattle Center surveillance footage, although no cameras were positioned where the shooting occurred. She said officials are being deliberate about the information they release as the investigation continues.
“Tensions are high, and there’s a lot of time-sensitive work to do,” Wilson said.
When asked whether police believe there is an ongoing threat to the public while another person remains outstanding, Wilson declined to answer. Officials also did not address the relationship between the 15-year-old suspect and Semo.
Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell, who led Monday’s briefing, declined to say whether firearms recovered at the scene had been reported stolen or linked to previous crimes, citing the active investigation.
During Monday’s news conference, Wilson said Seattle Center has reopened to the public and that investigators will continue providing updates as the investigation progresses.
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A GoFundMe campaign describes Whitehead as someone who loved “life, art and family” and said she was attending the festival with her daughter and future son-in-law when the shooting began.
During Monday’s news conference, Barnes acknowledged concerns about the department’s communication following the shooting and said Seattle police are working to improve how information is shared during major incidents.
Seattle Center officials said the city is planning another community vigil Wednesday, though additional details had not yet been announced.
