SEATTLE — Newly released surveillance video shows waves of panic and crowd chaos following a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival.
The footage, captured from a camera mounted on the Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, shows people fleeing after gunfire broke out. The video does not show the shooting itself and contains no audio.
The gunfight, which killed three and injured four, happened near the Seattle Center Armory building in an area obscured by trees where no surveillance cameras are currently installed.
Several police officers sprinted toward the gunfire immediately following the shots, allowing them to disarm and arrest one suspect at the scene while the other suspect(s) ran.
Reviewing the surveillance footage, Jim Fuda with Crimestoppers pointed out festival attendees fleeing from the scene, with some carrying small children or pushing strollers through the crowd. Fuda noted that he was amazed more people were not seriously injured or trampled during the sudden rush.
“You obviously see the mass chaos,” Fuda said.
He says the footage highlights the importance of personal safety during large gatherings, telling viewers to ask themselves, “If something goes sideways, how am I prepared to protect myself and my family?”
Law enforcement officials are utilizing the available footage as they work to identify other individuals involved in the gunfight who fled the scene. Fuda noted that detectives with the Seattle Police Department can analyze the video frame by frame to identify potential suspects.
“SPD can blow that up — that individual, slow it down, still shot it and maybe come up with a suspect,” Fuda said.
Seattle Center currently lacks surveillance cameras around the Armory building where the gunfire occurred. While acknowledging debates regarding privacy protections, Fuda argued that installing real-time closed-circuit television cameras in blind spots is critical for public safety and rapid police response.
“It’s public safety,” Fuda said. “With real-time cameras, officers can respond... ‘Your suspect is running this way, this is what he looks like,’ and eliminate that threat — and then the other stuff, debate it later.”
Fuda added that visible camera systems can also serve as a deterrent to prevent violent incidents before they occur.
“It aids in an investigation; it ID’s suspects,” Fuda said. “Prior to an event, these actors that come to do this kind of problem will know that there’s cameras there.”
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