Seattle pays tribute to food festival shooting victims
Families grieved on Monday as they remembered the three people killed in a shooting at a food festival.
Seattle mourned on Monday, paying tribute to the three lives lost in a fatal street gunfight the previous day.
Dozens, including the city's mayor and police chief, gathered at a local fountain for a candlelight vigil. Meanwhile, online fundraisers for two of the victims garnered tens of thousands of dollars in donations.
The three individuals who died Sunday at the annual Bite of Seattle food festival were Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, and Ashley Whitehead, 56.
A GoFundMe for Villalba characterized him as "a devoted husband, loving father of three, and a loyal friend who would do anything for anyone." The description continued, "His kindness and generosity touched countless lives, and everyone who knew him remembers his gentle spirit and willingness to help others. His sudden passing has left his family heartbroken and facing an uncertain future." His family stated the funds would cover funeral expenses and help support them in his absence. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Ashley Whitehead's family reported that she was in line for cotton candy with her daughter when gunshots erupted, ending her life. She died in the hospital during surgery after exchanging "heartfelt 'I love you's with her eldest daughter," according to the GoFundMe page launched after her death. Whitehead was described as "a lover of life, art and family." The write-up added, "Family was everything to Ashley - she had recently moved to the west coast from Alabama to be closer to Zoie," referring to her eldest daughter.
At the Monday evening vigil, attendees laid flowers and lit candles in shared grief, observing a moment of silence. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the gun violence, stating, "This is not acceptable. No father, no parent should have to bury their child."
Police suspect Junior Cee Niko Semo, the third deceased victim, was involved in the gunfight. Another suspect is in custody, while a third remains at large.
The shots fired Sunday at the annual food festival near Seattle's Space Needle resulted in three deaths and four injuries during a suspected "gunfight," police reported. Sunday marked the final day of the three-day free food festival, which typically attracts around 350,000 people annually.
Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson posted on social media Monday that the community was shocked and "struggling to make sense of how an iconic community celebration could end in gunfire."