On cam: Video shows moment gunfire triggers chaos at Seattle festival

What began as an evening of food, music and celebration ended in scenes of terror after a mass shooting at Seattle's iconic Seattle Center left at least two people dead and five others injured on Sunday.

The gunfire erupted around 6 pm (local time) during the annual Bite of Seattle festival, one of the city's biggest public events, sending thousands of attendees scrambling for safety.

The venue, located just a block from the Space Needle, was packed with visitors when the shooting unfolded.

The Seattle Police Department confirmed that officers were investigating the incident and urged people to stay away from the area.

'Police are investigating a shooting—multiple shooting victims. Shots fired at the Seattle Center—more information to come. Please avoid the area,' the department said in a post on X.

According to local reports, the injured were rushed to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone has been taken into custody, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.

A video circulating on social media captured the terrifying moments when gunshots rang out across the crowded festival grounds.

Within seconds, panic spread through the venue as people ran in different directions, desperately trying to escape.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as one of complete chaos. Speaking to CNN affiliate KOMO, witnesses said they heard at least seven to eight gunshots before crowds began running 'everywhere.'

Another witness told The Seattle Times that the festival was already so crowded that moving through the food stalls had been difficult even before the shooting began.

Estan Wakonabo, 25, recalled people trampling over one another in the rush to flee.

'It was just pure chaos,' he said, adding that when he returned later, he saw multiple victims lying on the ground, including one body covered with a yellow sheet.

The Bite of Seattle festival, which began in 1982, is one of the city's largest annual events and attracts around 350,000 visitors over three days, celebrating local food, drinks and live entertainment.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.