Authorities have identified the three people killed in Sunday’s mass shooting at a Seattle food festival.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office named the victims of the fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19.
In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said the 19-year-old who died at the scene had been involved in the shooting.
Online fundraisers created for the victims’ families described Villalba as a much-loved father of three, while Whitehead was remembered as a devoted mother to two daughters.
Whitehead was shot in the pelvis and later died at a hospital, KOMO News reported.
‘Ashley was waiting in line for cotton candy, enjoying the festival with her daughter, Zoie, and future son-in-law, Ben, when the violence began,’ a GoFundMe page set up for Whitehead’s family said.
‘She was shot and, despite surviving long enough to exchange heartfelt “I love you’s” with her eldest daughter, passed away during surgery at Harborview.’
The 56-year-old had recently relocated from Alabama to the West Coast so she could live closer to her daughter, Zoie.
Whitehead is remembered as a ‘lover of life, art and family.’ Her other daughter, Celeste, currently resides in Virginia.
Seattle shooting victim Ashley Whitehead, 56, is one of three people killed in the July 26, 2026, mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival
Whitehead, a beloved mom of two daughters, was struck in the pelvis and later died at the hospital
The 56-year-old mother had recently moved to the west coast from Alabama to be closer to her daughter, Zoie
This is the second fatal tragedy Whitehead’s daughter Zoie has endured, according to the GoFundMe.
In 2018, she lost her partner of seven years, Michael, to heart failure.
All the money raised in the GoFundMe will be donated to Zoie, as she will use the funds to support her family and to cover the bereavement services.
‘We are reaching out to the community for help. Any support you can offer—whether through donations or sharing this fundraiser—will make a meaningful difference for Zoie and Ben as they navigate the aftermath of Ashley’s passing and the trauma of the mass shooting,’ the fundraiser added.
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At least four others were wounded in Sunday night’s shooting, most victims were discharged and are recovering.
The other victims – two men, ages 23 and 27, and a woman, 39 – were released, a hospital spokesperson said.
A two-year-old boy remains hospitalized after being struck by gunfire, but officials say he could be released as early as Monday.
The shootout erupted at the food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle just after 6pm, killing the three victims before police arrested a 15-year-old suspect.
Ashley pictured with her daughter Zoie, a GoFundMe was set up to support the heartbroken daughter
In 2018, Whitehead’s daughter Zoie lost her partner of seven years, Michael, to heart failure
This is the second fatal tragedy Whitehead’s daughter Zoie has endured, according to the GoFundMe
In a document filed in juvenile court in Seattle, where the 15-year-old arrested in the case did not appear for a scheduled initial appearance Monday, police said they believe there were at least three shooters, rather than two: the 15-year-old; an acquaintance who died at the scene; and ‘at least one other unknown suspect.’
‘Based on the evidence at the scene, investigators believe’ the 15-year-old ‘and one of the deceased engaged in a gunfight with at least one other unknown suspect,’ the document said.
The teen was being held in juvenile detention for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault ahead of the scheduled court appearance, Mayor Katie Wilson said at a news conference.
It was not immediately clear why the teen did not appear in court.
One of the victims was walking a bicycle when struck, the court document said. The toddler was with his mother.
The annual three-day festival draws hundreds of food and retail vendors and performers to Seattle Center, a sprawling park and event space in the shadow of the Space Needle.
Many attendees rushed into campus buildings or ran from the park at the sound of the shots.
This is a breaking news story.
