Seattle Police Identify Ghost Gun Used in Festival Shooting That Left Three Dead
Seattle police announced Tuesday that a 15-year-old arrested following a Sunday food festival shooting used an untraceable ghost gun assembled without serial numbers. The violent incident, which occurred near the city’s Space Needle during the closing hours of the festival, left three people dead and at least four others wounded, including a toddler. Among the three individuals killed was a suspected shooter identified by police as Junior Cee Niko Semo.
Details of the Recovered Weapon and Suspect Arrest
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes stated that the apprehended youth utilized a firearm equipped with an extended 33-round magazine, which still contained 19 rounds when officers took him into custody. Investigators determined that the weapon was constructed using components from Polymer80, a now-shuttered manufacturer of weapons kits. Mr. Barnes described ghost guns as typically homemade, illegal, and lacking serial numbers. Authorities are continuing their search for a third suspect involved in the attack.
Investigation Points to Gang-Related Crossfire
Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell stated Monday that investigators believe the Seattle Center shooting was gang-related, stemming from an exchange of fire between two groups. While ghost guns have previously been linked to high-profile incidents such as a 2019 school shooting in California, gun-safety organizations note that these weapons are most frequently deployed in everyday street violence. Nationally, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported that law enforcement recoveries of ghost guns grew 44 percent in 2022 and 2023 compared to the prior five years, and surged by nearly 1,600 percent between 2017 and 2023.
Legal Battles and State Legislative Measures
Washington State enacted comprehensive laws in 2019 and 2022 targeting untraceable firearms, yet the weapons remain an escalating concern for local law enforcement. In January, a 26-year-old Seattle man received a prison sentence following a 2024 apartment raid where police recovered a 3-D printer alongside dozens of firearms, including 20 homemade guns. On the federal level, the Supreme Court upheld Biden administration restrictions last year requiring background checks on buyers and traceability for parts used to build the weapons, though these regulations continue to face legal challenges from conservative groups and the national gun lobby.
