Editor's note: This page summarizes news of the Seattle shooting on Sunday, July 26. For the latest on the Seattle Center shooting, visit USA TODAY's coverage for Monday, July 27.

Police in Seattle are investigating a mass shooting near the city's iconic Space Needle on July 26 that left three people dead and four others injured, including a toddler.

Officers took a suspect into custody following the early evening shooting, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said in an updated statement. The mayor previously said two people were in custody.

A second individual was also believed to be involved, and officers were searching for that person, Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said in a media briefing late on Sunday.

The shooting took place at the Seattle Center, a 74-acre entertainment and cultural complex just northwest of downtown Seattle, that hosted the Bite of Seattle food festival this weekend.

Founded in 1982, Bite of Seattle has been a summer tradition in the Northwest for over 40 years and featured over 130 food and beverage vendors, along with live cooking demos, live music and other activities.

"What happened at the Seattle Center today was an act of horrific violence," Wilson said. "Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire. No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city."

The Seattle Fire Department told USA TODAY the shooting took place about 6 p.m. PT and, despite lifesaving efforts, two people were pronounced dead at the scene.

Four others were taken to a hospital, firefighters said, and another person who suffered minor injuries, a 40-year-old woman, declined to be transported for medical treatment.

Davis said one person in hospital died of their injuries, bringing the death toll to three. He added that the four others in hospital were in stable condition.

The other victims include a 56-year-old woman, a 39-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 2-year-old boy. It was not immediately known which of the victims taken to a hospital died.

USA TODAY reached out to police for more information.

"We know that many people who were not physically injured will carry what they experienced today for a long time," Wilson said. "That includes witnesses, workers, first responders, and everyone waiting to learn whether someone they love is safe."

'Cannot accept this violence as normal': Man charged after fatal shooting of 12-year-old outside NYC bodega

Estan Wakonabo, 35, told The Seattle Times he was at Bite of Seattle with his girlfriend when the gunshots rang out.

"It was just pure chaos," Wakonabo said, telling the outlet he watched people trample over one another during the melee and later saw several gunshot victims on the ground.

Later in the evening, in a post on X, Gov. Bob Ferguson wrote the Washington State Patrol SWAT team was on the way to assist, at the request of Seattle police.

"My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe," Ferguson wrote.

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, in a post on X, called the shooting "senseless violence" and said local and state leaders, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Ferguson, were continuing to monitor the fluid situation.

"We are grateful to law enforcement at SPD and first responders who are at the scene and working hard," Jayapal wrote. "Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this senseless violence. We will provide updates as we have additional information."

Multiple other local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, also responded to the scene.

"Gun violence changes families forever. Its trauma reaches far beyond the people struck by bullets. In the days ahead, we will establish what happened and be transparent with the public about what we have learned," Wilson said. "Tonight, our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them." 

"Seattle grieves with you, and we will stand with you in the difficult days ahead," she said.

Contributing: Zachary Fletcher with the Kitsap Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network, Reuters

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 dead, 4 injured after shooting at Seattle food festival