A weekend food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle turned into a scene of chaos and bloodshed Sunday evening when a shootout among at least three suspects left three people dead and several others injured, including a toddler. Police said Monday they believe the violence may have been gang-related, with two groups firing at each other amid crowds of attendees at the Bite of Seattle festival. The gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. in the waning hours of the annual three-day event, which draws hundreds of vendors and performers to Seattle Center, a sprawling park beneath the iconic landmark. Panic spread quickly as festivalgoers rushed into campus buildings or fled the park at the sound of shots.

Authorities have arrested a 15-year-old boy who waived his initial appearance in juvenile court Monday, where a judge ordered him held on firearms violations and first-degree assault charges. Police said in court documents that they believe there were at least three shooters involved: the teenager, a 19-year-old acquaintance who died at the scene, and at least one other unknown suspect who remains at large. The King County prosecutor’s office expects to receive the case Wednesday for a charging decision. Assistant Chief Nicole Powell told reporters investigators believe the shooting stemmed from gang activity, though details about what sparked the confrontation remain unclear.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the dead as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; Ashley Whitehead, 56; and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, the suspected shooter who died from multiple gunshot wounds. Villalba was remembered as a husband and father of three known for his generosity, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched to help his family with funeral expenses. Four others were wounded, including a 2-year-old boy who was with his mother, and all have since been discharged from the hospital.

The police response and public communications drew criticism after a series of confusing statements from city officials. Mayor Katie Wilson initially announced two people were in custody before retracting that statement, while the police department waited five hours Sunday night to tell the public one shooter had been arrested and another was believed to be on the loose. At a news conference Monday morning, Police Chief Shon Barnes said investigators weren’t sure if the second shooter was among the dead but made no mention of additional suspects. Both officials defended their handling of the case, saying they wanted to ensure accurate information was released during chaotic circumstances.

Vendors were allowed back onto the grounds Monday morning to collect equipment abandoned when crowds fled, finding skewered squid still on grills and roasted ducks left in ovens. Near the shooting site, what appeared to be a bloodstain remained visible on the ground. Adam Lombardo, who operated a Burmese food stand, described people running in a stampede and reflected on the tragedy with grief. People came to enjoy a food festival with friends, he said, and lost their lives in meaningless bloodshed.