Seattle police arrest 15-year-old in food festival shooting, seize ghost gun

Seattle police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival. The shooting, which occurred on the final day of the three-day event, left three people dead and at least four injured.

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The weapon the 15-year-old had been shooting when he surrendered to police was equipped with an extended 33-round magazine.

Police Chief Shon Barnes stated that the arrested teen was carrying a 9 mm ghost gun with an extended 33-round magazine. Ghost guns are privately manufactured firearms that lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace and often acquired without background checks. Authorities believe these untraceable weapons are increasingly used in violent crimes across the United States.

Investigators are treating the incident as gang-related and are actively seeking to identify any additional individuals involved. They are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Two other firearms were recovered at the scene, including a Glock 45 model 9 mm with a switch that allows for fully automatic firing. Police believe this weapon was also discharged during the incident.

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Authorities say they believe the violence was gang-related, and they are reviewing any available surveillance video and interviewing victims and witnesses in an effort to identify others who may have been involved.

The deceased victims were identified as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; Ashley Whitehead, 56; and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Villalba's family. Authorities are also attempting to identify an eighth person who may have been injured but left a hospital before being interviewed.

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Ghost guns are privately made, often homemade, firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them. They are often purchased without a background check.