It was supposed to be a fun summer Sunday evening at Seattle Center. Thousands of local folks and tourists were hanging out near the Space Needle, eating good food and enjoying the annual Bite of Seattle festival. But around 6 p.m., everything turned into absolute chaos when sudden gunshots rang out through the crowded park.
Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba was right there in the middle of the crowd, just spending quality time with his loved ones. Carlos was 44 years old, a devoted husband, and a father of three. Friends always knew him as a hard worker and a loyal guy who would step up for anybody in need.
When the gunfire erupted without warning, Carlos had no time to get out of the way. He was hit in the torso and tragically died right there on the scene. In a single moment, a happy family outing turned into a nightmare, leaving his wife and three kids completely devastated.
Just steps away from Carlos, another family was hit by the exact same tragedy. Ashley Whitehead, a 56-year-old mother who loved life, art, and her family, was standing in line for cotton candy. She was enjoying the festival with her adult daughter, Zoie, and Zoie’s future husband.
A stray bullet struck Ashley in the pelvis while she stood in line. First responders rushed her to Harborview Medical Center for emergency surgery. Before she was taken into the operating room, Ashley managed to exchange final “I love yous” with her eldest daughter, but she did not survive the surgery.
As news of the horror spread, community members quickly stepped up to help both families. Tommy Evans started a GoFundMe page called “In Loving Memory of Carlos” on behalf of Carlos’s wife, Sandra Frausto. Since Carlos was the main breadwinner for his family, the money is going toward funeral costs and basic living expenses. The campaign raised nearly $40,000 toward a $50,000 goal by Tuesday.
A second fundraiser titled “Support Zoie After Tragic Loss and Family Trauma” was set up for Ashley’s daughter. That campaign raised over $17,000 toward its $22,000 target by Tuesday to help Zoie and her family navigate the unexpected trauma and expenses.
Police say the tragedy unfolded after three people got into an argument and started shooting at each other. A total of seven people were shot or killed, including a toddler. Nineteen-year-old Junior Cee Semo died at the scene during the shootout. Officers arrested a 15-year-old boy on Sunday, while a third gunman is still on the loose.
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