Recently released 911 calls provide new insights into the tragic shooting that unfolded at Seattle’s renowned Bite of Seattle festival. These recordings reveal the dramatic efforts of emergency responders as they hurried to assist multiple victims at the scene.
One distressed caller, who reported being shot in the back, could be heard urgently telling the dispatcher, “I’m losing blood.”
The individual on the line admitted uncertainty about the identity of the shooter.
The location of the Seattle shooting (KCPQ)
The caller continued, “I don’t know who did it. I took cover. I see the officers down here,” emphasizing their lack of clarity amidst the chaos.
The dispatcher tried to keep the wounded person calm as help was sent toward the water fountain where the caller was believed to be waiting.
“It’s okay. Just breathe. Breathe with me. I’m going to stay with you,” the dispatcher said.
Moments later, the caller said they were with an officer.
Other emergency transmissions capture dispatchers and first responders working to assess the scope of the unfolding violence near the Seattle Center Armory.
“Multiple people down at this point,” one dispatcher said when asked whether anyone had been shot.
Police officers keep watch after a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival July 26, 2026, in Seattle. Two people are dead and multiple people were wounded. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said one suspect is in custody. (Getty Images)
As reports continued to come in, another dispatcher requested “as many aid units as possible,” saying there were at least two people down — “but more than that.”
Emergency crews initially treated the area as an active scene while officials worked to determine whether it was safe for responders to enter.
“Let’s treat that as an active scene for now,” a dispatcher said.
A dispatcher later said there were “six confirmed gunshot wounds” amid the chaotic response.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes attend a vigil for victims the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The calls come as Seattle police have offered few public updates on the investigation.
Fox 13 Seattle reported that interim Police Chief Andre Sayles said earlier this month that investigators had developed new information and expected to make an arrest, but he declined to disclose details.
“I think the biggest thing is, you know, it’s going to cause a little bit of frustration, is the integrity of this investigation,” Sayles said Aug. 7, according to the outlet. “There’s some information that we have. I want to make sure that we keep the integrity of that investigation close to the vest until we can make the appropriate arrest.”
A 15-year-old suspect remains in custody in connection with the shooting.
The Mayor’s Office said in a statement to the outlet that the administration “continues to work closely with the Seattle Police Department to ensure information about critical events reach the public.”
The shooting erupted last month outside the Seattle Center Armory during the Bite of Seattle food festival, near the Space Needle. Three people were killed and four others were wounded, including a 2-year-old boy, authorities previously said.
The dead included a 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man who were pronounced dead at the scene. A 56-year-old woman later died after she was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Wilson called the shooting “an act of horrific violence.”
“Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire,” Wilson said at the time.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson listens to an attendee after a vigil a day after the Bite of Seattle food festival shooting at Seattle Center July 27, 2026, in Seattle. Three people were killed and four were wounded. (Getty Images)
“No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city,” she added.
Wilson said officials believed a 15-year-old had opened fire into the crowd, though details remained under investigation. The teen was booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of firearms violations and first-degree assault. No homicide charges had been filed as of the most recent update.
Former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said investigators believed gunfire was exchanged outside the Armory after a conflict involving small groups believed to be at odds with one another, leaving bystanders caught in the crossfire.
Investigators initially believed two gunmen were involved. But a juvenile-court document later indicated the detained teen and an acquaintance who was found dead at the scene may have exchanged gunfire with at least one other, unidentified suspect.
News Media reached out to the Seattle Police Department and mayor’s office for comment.