Teen suspect in Bite of Seattle shooting released to home detention

The 15-year-old suspect in the Bite of Seattle shooting was ordered released to electronic home detention Wednesday after a judge cited a “colorable” self-defense claim.

“Probable cause was found, he was kept, and now new evidence has indicated that there may be some other things at issue. There’s a colorable claim of self-defense,” Judge Veronica Galvan said.

The teenager will stay at his father’s home under electronic monitoring, with an adult required to be present at all times. The decision follows a Sept. 1 ruling that kept the teenager in custody after his attorney requested electronic home monitoring at his father’s home.

The teen faces charges of first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

MyNorthwest is not naming the suspect because he is a minor.

Though there will not be an expanded zone at this time, Galvan stated, “That’s something that can be addressed at a later time.”

The teen must maintain contact with his juvenile probation counselor and attorney. He is also prohibited from entering Seattle Center or contacting any alleged victims in the case.

Galvan also ordered the teen to undergo mental health treatment and comply with the law.

Teen suspect in the Bite of Seattle shooting appears in court. (Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)

Shooting at Bite of Seattle leaves 3 dead, 4 wounded

Three people were killed, and another four were injured in the shooting at Seattle Center on July 26 during the Bite of Seattle event.

Bite of Seattle, the largest free-admission food event in Washington, expected more than 350,000 people to attend the three-day event.

Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers arrived at the 200 block of Thomas Street just after 6 p.m. and cleared the area after the shooting. Several people were sheltered at the Seattle Armory.

A 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man died at the scene, SPD announced. A third person, a 56-year-old woman, died after she was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where three other injured victims were sent for medical care.

“They attempted lifesaving efforts for two patients, but they were unsuccessful. [Two] patients were declared deceased at the scene,” Grace Nuñez, the public information officer with the Seattle Fire Department (SFD), stated. “The Seattle Police Department is investigating.”

The other victims — a 23-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman, and a 2-year-old child — were also injured in the shooting but in stable condition.

“Our hearts go out to everybody who’s impacted by this,” Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said at the scene of the shooting during a media debrief just before 11 p.m. “I can’t imagine being the parent of a two-year-old toddler, for example, who’s injured in a shooting like this. But for everybody who’s impacted, our hearts go out to them.”

The fourth person injured, a 40-year-old woman, took herself to the University of Washington (UW) Medical Center. All four injured had gunshot wounds.

“The range of injuries for the four patients involves the arm, leg, abdomen, and lower leg,” Susan Gregg, the director of media relations for UW Medicine, told KIRO Newsradio.

One suspect was arrested and taken into custody, according to Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, but multiple shooters were reported to be involved. SPD officers found and confiscated two guns at the scene. The department believes two suspects were shooting at each other.

“There may be more. We’re still trying to figure this out,” Tyrone Davis, the assistant chief for the SPD, said at the scene during the debrief with media. “We have a limited amount of witnesses, so one of the things that really could help us out is if people would call our hotline.”

Bite of Seattle shooting report reveals elected officials distracted police from getting information out

A finding in the SPD after-action report on the July 26 Bite of Seattle shooting confirms officials distracted officers from getting information out.

“Senior and elected officials distracted sworn staff from completing timely public safety information and on-scene decision-making,” the report stated.

The first press briefing did not happen until five hours after the shooting, a delay for which both SPD and the mayor’s office have been criticized. The report also noted that two internal briefings took place before the first public briefing.

Wilson disputed a Seattle police account that her deputy mayor instructed police to delay a public briefing following the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting, setting up a direct conflict between the mayor and a top police commander over what happened behind the scenes that night.

The dispute centered on Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis’ testimony to the Seattle City Council last month. Davis said police were prepared to brief reporters at about 7:30 p.m., roughly 90 minutes after the July 26 shooting, but Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt told him to wait for Wilson. Davis said he proposed other options, including briefing the public immediately and holding another news conference when the mayor arrived, but was again told to wait.

The mayor’s office has previously acknowledged communication problems surrounding the shooting and has taken steps intended to improve how the city releases information during major emergencies.

The mayor and Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles also released city and police text messages in September, saying the goal was greater transparency and clearer communication protocols.

Contributing: Jason Sutich and Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest; Frank Lenzi and Luke Duecy, KIRO Newsradio

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