Seattle police chief Shon Barnes resigned Thursday amid mounting pressure from Mayor Katie Wilson over the city’s delayed public communication following a fatal shootout at the Bite of Seattle food festival. Deputy Chief Andre Sayles steps in as interim chief as the city prepares for Seafair Weekend.
Seattle police chief Shon Barnes stepped down Thursday following criticism over how long it took officials to inform the public about a deadly festival shooting. Mayor Katie Wilson announced the resignation, bringing an end to hours of speculation regarding whether Barnes would exit his post after supporters indicated he had initially rebuffed requests to step down.
Earlier Thursday, Barnes told local media that his future as chief remained up to the mayor
while he was taking the day off to spend time with his family. In a written statement released alongside the resignation announcement, Wilson expressed gratitude for his service, while Barnes pointed toward the future of the department.
Bite of Seattle Festival Shooting and the Five-Hour Communication Gap
The leadership crisis stems from a fatal shootout that erupted last weekend during the Bite of Seattle, a popular three-day summer festival drawing hundreds of vendors and performers to Seattle Center against the backdrop of the Space Needle. Gunfire left three people dead, including one suspect, and wounded four others, including a 2-year-old boy.
While officials praised the immediate tactical response of officers on the ground—court documents note that at least one officer watched a 15-year-old suspect fire into the crowd and quickly persuaded him to surrender—the city faced heavy backlash for its sluggish public updates. It took nearly five hours after an initial social media post for police to release critical information regarding whether an active threat remained. The city also failed to activate its emergency alert system, and Wilson temporarily disseminated and later retracted an incorrect statement claiming two suspects were in custody.
“What I did not fully understand in that moment was how little information had reached the public or the press since the incident began at 6 p.m. Had I known that, I would have pushed for an immediate briefing, rather than waiting for a press conference to be organized.”
Mayor Katie Wilson, via Associated Press
That briefing finally materialized around 11 p.m. Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
Community Coalition Rallies and Political Stakes in Seattle
Before his resignation, Barnes enjoyed vocal backing from community organizations and city lawmakers. Several Black community groups, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, issued an open letter defending his tenure. They emphasized his work in strengthening community relations, reducing gun violence, and improving department operations, declaring that Chief Barnes should not be made a scapegoat for the complex challenges of public safety.
At least six Seattle City Council members also threw their weight behind Barnes. Four of them signed a statement emphasizing organizational continuity, noting that the city has had four chiefs in less than three years. Our priority must be stability, not further disruption,
the lawmakers stated.
Appointed in December 2024 by former Mayor Bruce Harrell after serving as police chief in Madison, Wisconsin, Barnes was the city’s second Black police chief. When Wilson—a democratic socialist who previously voiced support for defunding the police—won the mayoral race, keeping Barnes on served as a reassuring signal to local business leaders. Jon Scholes, president of the Downtown Seattle Association, noted that Apnews under the current leadership team, with rising hiring numbers and declining crime rates.
Interim Leadership Appointed Ahead of Seafair Weekend Festival 2026
To steer the department through the immediate vacancy, Wilson appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief. Sayles brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience to the role.
The leadership shuffle arrives as Seattle confronts another massive public gathering.
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