15-Year-Old Charged After Deadly "Bite of Seattle" Shooting; Prosecutors Seek Adult Trial

A King County prosecutor on Wednesday charged a 15-year-old with first-degree assault and weapons offenses in connection with a mass shooting that erupted Sunday evening at Seattle's annual Bite of Seattle food festival, leaving three people dead and four others wounded, including a 2-year-old child.

Charges and Prosecutor Actions

The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed one count of assault in the first degree with a firearm enhancement and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. The office said the assault charge stems from the suspect "firing multiple times into a crowd," and the firearms charge reflects that people under 18 generally may not legally possess handguns in Washington state.

Prosecutors also filed a motion asking a judge to decline juvenile jurisdiction so the 15-year-old could be prosecuted as an adult; that process typically takes several months. They have asked that the defendant remain in secure detention pending further proceedings.

Victims and Investigation

Authorities identified the dead as Sanchez Villalba, 44; Ashley Whitehead, 56; and Cee Nike Semo, 19. Officials said Villalba and Whitehead were bystanders, while Semo is believed to have been one of the shooters. Villalba and Semo were pronounced dead at the scene; Whitehead died later at Harborview Medical Center. The four wounded victims, including a 2-year-old, have since been released from hospital care.

Police say the violence appears to have been a targeted, gang-related shootout involving multiple individuals. A 19-year-old suspect was among those killed at the scene, and investigators continue to search for at least one additional suspect.

Weapons Evidence and Ballistics

Investigators recovered 14 shell casings and three firearms at the scene. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said the arrested 15-year-old allegedly had a Polymer80 9mm untraceable "ghost" gun with an extended 33-round magazine that contained 19 rounds when recovered. A second compact 9mm pistol with a standard magazine was also recovered but is not believed to have been used in the shooting.

The third firearm — found during a food vendor cleanup — was described by Chief Barnes as a Glock 45 9mm fitted with a fully automatic switch and an extended 40-round-capacity magazine with 21 rounds remaining. "Our detectives believe that the Polymer80 ghost gun and the Glock 45 were used in this act of violence, but we are still waiting on ballistic testing to be completed," he said.

Next Steps

Prosecutors said they have not yet charged the juvenile with murder because police investigators have not referred the case as a murder investigation while the probe continues. "If they refer information for additional charges, prosecutors will review that information immediately," the office said. Ballistic testing and ongoing investigative work will guide any further charges and the search for other suspects.

The shooting has shaken the Seattle community and prompted an active law enforcement and prosecutorial response as authorities work to complete forensic testing and gather additional evidence.