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A 15-year-old suspect has been formally charged in the gang-related 'Bite of Seattle' shooting that killed three people.

A 15-year-old boy, whose name remains private as a minor, has been formally charged with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm following the 'Bite of Seattle' shooting. The incident occurred at a crowded food festival at the Seattle Center, where a shootout involving multiple suspects resulted in three deaths and at least four injuries. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that the juvenile suspect used an untraceable "ghost gun" with an extended magazine. While the teen allegedly fired multiple times into the crowd, preliminary testing indicates his weapon did not fire the bullets that killed two of the three victims. Investigators believe the violence was gang-related, a designation that carries significant weight in the city's law enforcement strategy. King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney stated that the case has not yet been referred as a murder case because the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors are currently seeking to have the 15-year-old tried in adult court, which would carry a significantly higher sentencing range than juvenile court.

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