A 15-year-old boy accused of opening fire during a deadly shootout at a crowded Seattle food festival claims he was shooting back in self-defense, according to his attorney. The teen allegedly pulled a handgun from a pouch and fired after two unidentified suspects began shooting toward him and his friend at the Bite of Seattle on July 26.
The shooting sent festivalgoers scrambling outside the Seattle Center Armory near the Space Needle. Three people were killed, and four others were wounded, including a 2-year-old boy. Police have described the bloodshed as a gang-related shootout that left innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
The 15-year-old remains the only person charged in connection with the shooting, despite police continuing to investigate. Authorities have identified two potential persons of interest after reviewing 450 hours of video, but it is unclear whether they were involved in the shooting.
The teen's attorney, Hong Tran, has stated that several eyewitnesses confirmed that the boy reached for a firearm after the shooting started. However, prosecutors argue that the teen's actions were reckless and posed a threat to the community.
The teen is currently being held in custody and faces charges of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under 18. His case is set to be reviewed in November, at which point prosecutors will ask a judge to move the case to adult court.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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