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Who were Ashley Whitehead and Carlos Villalba? Seattle Center mass shooting victims identified

The third person killed, 19-year-old Junior Cee Semo, was also identified as a participant in the shooting.

Updated on: Jul 28, 2026, 05:02:36 IST
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The victims of the Seattle Center mass shooting have been identified as 44-year-old Carlos Villalba and 56-year-old Ashley Whitehead, according to the King County Medical Examiner. The third person killed, 19-year-old Junior Cee Semo, was also identified as a participant in the shooting, which happened during the Bite of Seattle festival on Sunday.

Workers clean up the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Workers clean up the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Villalba suffered a gunshot wound to the torso and died at the scene. Semo, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds, also died at the scene. Whitehead was shot in the pelvis and taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she underwent surgery but later died from her injuries.

Other victims

Four other people were injured in the shooting. According to KING 5, three of the injured victims were released from the hospital on Monday. A 2-year-old boy remained at Harborview Medical Center as of Monday morning and was reported to be in satisfactory condition.

The other injured victims included a 39-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 27-year-old man.

Also Read: ‘Kept asking what happened…’: Seattle Center shooting victim's heartbreaking reaction revealed; latest updates

Suspects

A 15-year-old boy has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting. The teenager was arrested on suspicion of firearms violations and first-degree assault and waived his initial court appearance on Monday.

Authorities are still searching for another person believed to be involved in the shooting who remains at large.

The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation is offering a $5,000 reward for information that helps lead to the arrest of any outstanding suspects.

Witnesses with information are encouraged to contact the Seattle Police Department’s tip line at 206-233-5000.

Also Read: Seattle mass shooting victims: Latest update as witnesses recount horror; ‘heard bang, bang, bang…yelling’

Witnesses describe chaos at the event

Festival attendee Faith Adia Hunter said she and her friends had just bought food from a crepe vendor when gunfire erupted. They ran into the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum for safety.

“We were about to start eating, then heard someone yell something, then we saw people start to run,” Hunter told AP. “So we took off running, too.”

Estan Wakonabo said he and his girlfriend were waiting in line for a photo booth when he was shoved from behind.

“People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” Wakonabo said.

The Bite of Seattle festival, which began in 1982, draws about 350,000 attendees, according to its website.

(With inputs from AP)

  • Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan

    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More

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