Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes announced his resignation on Thursday, just days following a shooting incident at the Bite of Seattle food festival that resulted in three deaths and four injuries, including a two-year-old child. Mayor Katie Wilson confirmed the departure and designated Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, who has over two decades of law enforcement experience, to serve as interim chief.
The shooting occurred on Sunday at one of the city’s largest annual events while dozens of officers were already providing security. Court documents indicated that at least one officer observed a 15-year-old suspect firing into the crowd and successfully persuaded the individual to surrender. Authorities continue to search for at least one additional suspect. Barnes was attending a law enforcement conference outside the city at the time of the incident.
While Wilson commended the on-scene response from officers, characterizing their actions as potentially life-saving, she identified significant deficiencies in public communication. Police issued an initial social media post about the shooting but then remained silent for approximately five hours without further updates, creating public uncertainty about ongoing threats. Additionally, the city failed to activate its emergency notification system, and Wilson herself made an inaccurate public announcement regarding suspect custody before issuing a correction.
Barnes’s resignation came after considerable public discussion about his tenure. Several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, opposed calls for his removal, citing his improvements to police-community relations, reductions in gun violence, and strengthened departmental operations. Multiple City Council members similarly supported Barnes and noted that Seattle has experienced four police chief transitions in less than three years. Barnes was appointed in late 2024 and was retained by the current mayor, who took office this year.
The resignation occurred as Seattle prepares for additional major public events, with the Seafair festival scheduled to commence on Friday.
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