One month after a shooting at the Seattle Center left three people dead and sent thousands fleeing, questions remain regarding the search for a potential third suspect as law enforcement maintains that the investigation is active and ongoing.
Authorities identified two of the victims as 44-year-old Carlos Sanchez-Villalba and 56-year-old Ashley Whitehead. A third person who died, 19-year-old Junior Niko Semo, was later identified by police as one of the
According to court documents, Semo and a 15-year-old suspect knew each other and exchanged gunfire with another individual who has not yet been identified.
Seattle Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles said investigators continue to review evidence as they work to determine whether another suspect remains at large.
While police previously indicated in late July that they believed they were close to identifying and detaining a third suspect, officials with the Seattle Police Department declined to provide new details or updates when asked this week.
The ongoing search comes as an independent review examines the city's emergency response and public safety communications following the incident.
Shots were fired around 6 p.m., but city leaders did not hold a public safety briefing until nearly 5 hours later.
Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle discussed the initial emergency response Friday and the role of city government in evaluating the incident.
"The first responder piece, that initial first responder, I think was textbook, but then after that, there's obviously areas that we can improve," Kettle said. "And that's my responsibility. That's our council's responsibility in terms of oversight."
Kettle noted that security cameras could have assisted law enforcement during the incident. However, police stated that no surveillance cameras were located near the specific area where the shooting took place.
The violence left a lasting impact on event attendees who experienced the chaos firsthand.
Bite of Seattle attendee Ava Hendrix recounted escaping the scene with her family when gunfire erupted.
"Next thing you know we just hear shots," Hendrix said. "We started running the opposite direction, and we ran as fast as we could, and obviously I'm not that fast, so I just told my kids, 'run, run, run,' and my daughter, she was refusing to leave my side."
Hendrix stated that fear remains present in her daily life, compounded by another shooting outside her home two weeks later in which a neighbor was killed in a drive-by.
"Every little sound still kind of scares me," Hendrix said.
Hendrix urged anyone with details about the incident to contact police.
"We have to have some sense of security and people are afraid to talk," Hendrix said. "If you know who it is, say something, because it could be you next."
Progress updates regarding the investigation and review are expected to be presented during a Seattle City Council public safety committee hearing on Sept. 22.
The full independent review examining emergency communications and response efforts by the Seattle Police Department and the mayor's administration is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.