Following a weekend of gun violence incidents in Seattle, including a shooting at Seattle Center that left three dead, we here at Secret Seattle are thinking of the victims, their loved ones, and all those impacted. Here is a guide of resources to use and share with your community in the aftermath, as well as some important information regarding closures.
What happened?
On the evening of Sunday, July 26, a shooting occurred at the Bite of Seattle event at Seattle Center. Gunfire was exchanged between at least two people outside of Seattle Center Armory around 6:00 p.m., according to police reports. Three people lost their lives, and four others were hospitalized. Those in the hospital are in stable condition as of Monday morning. Seattle Police have reported one arrest so far, and are asking the public to share any information with the SPD at this tip line: 206-233-5000.
The Seattle Center shooting came on the heels of a shooting incident in Capitol Hill on Friday night. Two bystanders were shot and injured (one at Wildrose and the other person at A Pizza Mart), but no casualties were reported. No arrests have yet been reported in connection with Friday’s shooting.
Closures
If you have immediate plans to visit Seattle Center, be aware of possible closures. The entire Seattle Center campus remained closed on Monday morning so that Bite of Seattle vendors could return and pack up their equipment. The Seattle Center Armory remains closed throughout all of Monday, July 27. In addition, Pacific Science Center and Seattle Children’s Museum have also announced that they will be closed all day on Monday.
Some attractions at Seattle Center are open today. The Space Needle, the Monorail, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and IMAX at the Center have resumed normal operations.
Resources
For those needing immediate mental health support, you can call or text the 988 Hotline.
The City of Seattle also has a Victim Support Team that you can contact for support, such as counseling, for those impacted by violent incidents. You can call (206) 684-7721 or email VictimSupportTeam@seattle.gov.
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation offers trauma-informed assistance for youth, families, and witnesses impacted by shootings and similar events. They can help you find counseling and other resources. They have a 24-hour crisis intervention support that you can access via phone at (254) 499-8027 or online chat.
Two other great local resources for those impacted by the weekend’s gun violence include the Harborview Medical Center’s Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) and King County’s Regional Peacekeepers Collective.
Finally, additional gun violence resources include: the Directory of Crime Victim Services, The Rebels Project, the Trauma Survivors Network, and Survivors Empowered.
