2 killed, 5 wounded in shooting near Seattle's Space Needle, authorities say

Two people were killed and five others wounded in a shooting at a food festival near Seattle's Space Needle on Sunday evening, the Seattle Fire Department said. A suspect was in custody, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said.

According to the fire department, two people were pronounced dead at the scene after life-saving efforts failed. The department said a 56-year-old woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. Three other victims were brought there as well, including a two-year-old boy, all in stable condition. A fifth injured victim who had minor injuries chose not to go to the hospital.

A Harborview spokesperson later told CBS Seattle affiliate KIRO-TV the woman was in critical condition and in surgery and would be taken to the Intensive Care Unit after the operation.

The Seattle Police Department said earlier Sunday on social media that it was "investigating a shooting. Multiple shooting victims. Shots fired at the Seattle Center," and told people to "Please avoid the area."

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Sunday night that several of its agents were at the scene and that Seattle police would lead the investigation. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state SWAT team was en route, at the request of Seattle police.

The Seattle Center is a popular tourist location that includes the iconic Space Needle and Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm. The area was filled with people attending the annual Bite of Seattle food festival when the shooting took place.

Several witnesses told KIRO they heard multiple shots before running away.

"At first, thought there were fireworks, and then everybody flooded and ran past us," Nick Bate told the station.

Leanne Coles told KIRO, "Everybody started running, and so we just ran too, and we ran through the garden and we ducked and we decided to keep running with the crowd until we got- I looked up for the Space Needle to try to keep track of where we were. It was really scary."