Junior Niko-Semo died during a gang-related shootout at the Bite of Seattle festival, leaving three dead and four injured.
Junior Niko-Semo, a 19-year-old gunman, died during a gang-related shootout at the Bite of Seattle festival. Police believe he was involved in the shooting in some capacity, though they have not confirmed if the guns found at the scene were his. Junior Niko-Semo had previous gun charges in 2024 for unlawful possession of a firearm in the 2nd degree and a bump-fire stock, though that case was dismissed in 2025. During the shootout, a 15-year-old suspect was seen firing an untraceable ghost gun into a crowd, though the bullets that killed two bystanders did not match that weapon. As police escorted the teen past Junior Niko-Semo's body, the teen said, "Love you bro." Authorities are still investigating the violence, reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses to identify other participants. A judge will decide if the 15-year-old will be sentenced as an adult, which could result in a sentencing range of eight to 10 years plus a firearm enhancement, or a juvenile sentence of two to 2.5 years.