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Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes Identifies Gang-Related Mass Shooting at Bite of Seattle as Targeted Incident

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival was a targeted, gang-related incident. The shooting resulted in the deaths of two innocent bystanders, Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba and Ashley Whitehead, while a third victim, 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, was identified as one of the suspects who died at the scene. A 15-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene, and investigators are currently searching for at least one more suspect who remains at large. Police recovered several firearms, including a 9mm ghost gun and a Glock 45 modified with a fully automatic switch. Chief Shon Barnes noted that the ghost gun is an untraceable firearm without a serial number, which was seized from the 15-year-old suspect. The shooting left at least four other people wounded, including a two-year-old boy. Mayor Katie Wilson addressed the incident, noting that city officials are providing support to vendors and maintaining contact with victims. While some critics, such as former congressman Dave Reichert, noted a delay in public communication, the administration of the city remains focused on identifying the gang groups involved and securing the area for future events.

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