Teen Charged in Seattle Festival Shooting Says He Fired Back in Self-Defense

During the July 26 Bite of Seattle, a 15-year-old boy is accused of pulling a handgun from a pouch and firing after two unidentified assailants began shooting at him and his companion. The incident left three people dead and four injured, including a toddler, and authorities have labeled it a gang-related shootout. The teen, whose name is withheld, is the only individual charged, facing first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm, though court records indicate his gun did not cause the fatalities.

His public defender cites eyewitnesses supporting a self-defense narrative, while prosecutors argue he recklessly fired into a crowd of adults and children. Police have flagged two possible suspects after reviewing extensive video footage, but no further arrests have been made, and a judge denied the teen’s request for electronic monitoring. The case is set for a status hearing in October, with prosecutors planning to seek transfer to adult court in November.