15-year-old claims self-defense in Seattle mass shooting case

<p>A 15-year-old boy accused of opening fire during a deadly shootout at a crowded Seattle food festival claims he was shooting back in self-defense as authorities continue searching for other gunmen tied to the incident. The teen allegedly pulled a handgun from a pouch and fired after two unidentified suspects began shooting toward him and his friend at the Bite of Seattle on July 26, according to his attorney's court documents.</p><p>The gunfire caused festivalgoers to scramble outside the Seattle Center Armory near the Space Needle. Three people were killed, and four others were wounded, including a 2-year-old boy, as previously reported.</p><p>Police have described the incident as a gang-related shootout that left innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. The deceased included 19-year-old Niko-Semo, a 44-year-old man, and a 56-year-old woman.</p><p>More than a month later, the 15-year-old remains the only person charged in connection with the shooting. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office stated that police have not referred any other cases related to the shooting.</p><p>Seattle Police are handling the investigation and have identified two potential persons of interest after reviewing approximately 450 hours of video, according to Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles. He noted that it has not been determined whether the two individuals opened fire.</p><p>The teen, whose name has not been released due to juvenile status, insists he only opened fire after someone began shooting at him. His public defender, Hong Tran, stated that several eyewitnesses corroborated this account.</p><p>Tran wrote in an August 28 memorandum that law enforcement had interviewed multiple eyewitnesses who confirmed that the teen reached for a firearm after the shooting started. The boy had attended the festival to enjoy the food and was standing near Niko-Semo when the first shots rang out.</p><p>Witnesses observed the teen pull a firearm from a pouch and shoot in the direction of the shots, according to Tran. Officers working the festival responded to the gunfire and arrested the teen at the scene.</p><p>The teen told officers, "I was getting shot at," asserting that he fired back in self-defense. However, prosecutors argue that his actions were reckless, accusing him of firing into a crowded area.</p><p>Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Logan Bryant stated in a filing opposing the teen's release that there is no greater threat to the community than someone indiscriminately firing into a crowd of people.</p><p>The teen faces charges of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under 18. Prosecutors have also filed a firearm sentencing enhancement with the assault charge. Court records indicate that his shots were not responsible for any of the three deaths.</p><p>Prosecutors noted that the boy was carrying a Polymer80