Police in Seattle have determined that the bullets which killed two bystanders during a shootout at the Bite of Seattle food festival were not fired from the gun used by a 15-year-old suspect arrested at the scene. According to court documents filed Wednesday, preliminary tests showed the recovered bullets did not match the untraceable "ghost gun" the teenager allegedly fired into the crowd. The King County prosecutor’s office charged the teen with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and unlawful possession of a handgun by someone under 18.
Investigators found shell casings from four different firearms at the scene, suggesting multiple shooters were involved. A 19-year-old suspect was killed in the exchange of gunfire, and as officers escorted the 15-year-old past the body, the teenager allegedly said, "Love you bro." Police are still trying to identify at least one other person involved in the shooting, which left three people dead and four others injured, including a toddler. Authorities believe the violence was gang-related and are reviewing surveillance footage and interviews.
Meanwhile, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes faced criticism for being out of town during the shooting. Barnes was in Dallas, Texas, attending a law enforcement conference when the incident occurred. He defended his absence, stating, "I wish that I had a crystal ball and we could schedule gun violence, but we can’t." Barnes also snapped at a reporter questioning his frequent travel to Chicago, where his family lives, calling reports of his absence "grossly misstated." He insisted he works hard for the city and spends more time in Seattle than reported.