Wrestling matches provide an action-packed story time at US libraries, in photos

BENICIA, Calif. (AP) — The handwritten sign at a Northern California public library warned patrons to expect more noise than usual. That warning quickly proved to be an understatement as professional wrestlers, accompanied by booming music, thundered into the reading space and jumped into a ring flanked by row upon row of bookshelves.

Dozens of children and adults greeted the theatrics with hoots and hollers at the Benicia Public Library in Benicia, California.

Welcome to “Lucha Libro,” a high-energy, action-packed story time that is bringing live wrestling matches to libraries across the U.S. to promote literacy. Founded in 2024, “Lucha Libro” plays off the name of the popular Mexican-inspired sport of Lucha Libre. Libro means book in Spanish.

Libraries are typically sedate places, but the wrestlers did not hold back. They body slammed their opponents and aerial kicked each other in the chest.

Among the brawny wrestlers was “Llama Jack,” sporting a black mask with furry ears, who read “Llama Llama Time to Share,” before being interrupted by his rivals barging into the ring. He took them down in minutes and then finished the story.

Over 40 events are planned this year at libraries from California to New Jersey. One of the most popular wrestlers on the circuit is the fighting librarian, “Richard Shhnary.”

The idea started in 2024 when Lucha Libro's CEO, Jerry Rocha, and co-founder, Victor Dwight, were approached to put on a show at a local library, Rocha said in an email. Dwight wrestles as “Victor Von Richter.”

A year later, Lucha Libro debuted at the Benicia library.

Two worlds that were never meant to cross paths have since collided in the most spectacular way, Rocha said.

This gallery was curated by photojournalist Jeff Chiu based in San Francisco.

AP photography: https://apnews.com/photography

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Wrestler TJ Black reacts as he walks past books during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Hitman Wayne lies on the ground after losing a match against Rufio Banderas during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Victor Von Richter, left, reacts after being hit by Astro Knox, right, in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestlers Loverboy Leo, middle left, and Joey Gonzo are seen through shelves of books during their match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Llama Jack gestures to fans before competing in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestlers Jiah "the Crazy Cajun" Jewell, middle left, and El Chupacabra compete near book shelves at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans react during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Elliot Rey, middle top, applies a hold on TJ Black during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans react during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Jaguar Montoya, top, stomps on OC Hayes outside of the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans react as wrestler Julz Rafael, cneter, walks toward the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Hitman Wayne, middle top, applies a hold to Rufio Banderas during their match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Jaguar Montoya, top, applies a hold against OC Hayes during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Jaguar Montoya prepares for a match during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Astro Knox, right, hits a member of Young Steel during a tag team match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Llama Jack greets fans during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

A fan has his mask adjusted during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch a tag team match between Llama Jack and Astro Knox against Young Steel during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Loverboy Leo laces his boots before his match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Rufio Banderas warms up before a match during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestlers Llama Jack, center left, and Sampiro compete in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Llama Jack reads a Llama Llama book in the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SEATTLE (AP) — The 15-year-old arrested after a shootout at a food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle over the weekend was armed with a ghost gun with an extended magazine, police said Tuesday.

Police Chief Shon Barnes told a news conference that the weapon was a 9 mm gun from Polymer80 — a now-defunct company that was once a leading manufacturer of ghost gun parts.

Investigators also recovered two other weapons and 14 shell casings that had been fired by weapons of two different calibers, he said.

The shooting in the waning hours of the three-day Bite of Seattle festival left three people dead, including a 19-year-old gunman, and at least four people injured, including a toddler. Authorities say they believe the violence was gang-related, and they are reviewing any available surveillance video and interviewing victims and witnesses in an effort to identify others who may have been involved.

An eighth person with a possible gunshot wound checked themself into a Seattle hospital after the shooting, but checked out before investigators could conduct an interview, Barnes said. Legal obstacles have prevented detectives from obtaining the patient’s identity, he added. It's unclear if the injury was related to the festival shooting or whether the person might have been involved in it, but Barnes asked for the person to come forward and speak with investigators.

Ghost guns are privately made — often homemade — firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them. They have often been purchased without a background check. Law enforcement officials say ghost guns, including those made with 3D printers, have been used in violent crimes across the U.S.

Lawsuits and state-level bans eventually pushed Polymer80 out of business in 2024, and last year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a rule adopted under former President Joe Biden requiring companies to treat gun kits like other firearms by adding serial numbers, running background checks, and verifying that buyers are 21 or older.

The weapon the 15-year-old had been shooting when he surrendered to police was equipped with an extended 33-round magazine, Barnes said. The magazine still had 19 rounds in it.

At the scene Sunday night, police also recovered a 9 mm handgun that they do not believe was used in the shooting.

And on Monday, as food vendors were allowed to return to the area to clean up and collect their equipment, a third weapon was discovered: a Glock 45 model 9 mm with a switch allowing it to fire fully automatically, Barnes said. Police believe that gun was fired during the shooting. It had an extended 40-round magazine, with 21 rounds remaining in it.

In a document filed in juvenile court in Seattle on Monday, police said they believed there were at least three shooters: the 15-year-old, an acquaintance who died at the scene and “at least one other unknown suspect.” Authorities had earlier said they believed there were two.

A judge on Monday ordered the 15-year-old to be held in juvenile detention for investigation of assault and firearms charges pending further hearings. The King County prosecutor's office said it expected to receive the case from police on Wednesday for a charging decision. Hong Tran, a public defender assigned to the teen's case, declined to comment in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday identified the dead as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; Ashley Whitehead, 56; and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19.

Villalba was a husband and father of three known for his kindness and willingness to help others, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched Monday to help his family with funeral expenses. He died from a gunshot wound to his torso, while Whitehead died from a gunshot to her pelvis and Semo died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Whitehead had just moved to Washington from Alabama a year ago and was enjoying the festival with one of her adult daughters when she was shot, her cousin Michelle Whitehead told The Associated Press. She was taken to the hospital and died in surgery, she said.

Ashley Whitehead adored her two adult daughters, and also loved nature and arts and crafts, her cousin said.

“I would consider her just a free spirit. She had the best sense of humor, the best gorgeous smile,” she said.

During a vigil Monday night at the center, Michelle Whitehead stood among dozens of others with a sign that said “Whitehead Strong” as the group held a moment of silence and raised up flashlights on their phones to honor those that had been killed. Candles and flowers were arranged around them.

The four wounded included a 2-year-old boy, two men, ages 23 and 27, and a woman, 39, all of whom were discharged, a hospital spokesperson said.

One of the victims was walking a bicycle when struck, the court document said. The toddler was with his mother.

Rush reported from Portland, Oregon. Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

With a backdrop of the Space Needle, candles are seen lighted during the vigil for victims the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

People hold smartphone with flash light during the vigil for victims the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Michelle Whitehead, right, and her sister Judy Whitehead, left, both cousin of victim Ashley Whitehead, during the vigil for victims the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Police tape cordons off an area near the Space Needle the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Workers clean up the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A vendor, right, who found a bullet casing, gives it to a police officer after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A police officer puts a bullet casing into a rubber glove after he received it from a person who found it, following a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)