Additional Coverage:
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has stood by her recent decision to remove the city’s police chief, calling it “the right decision at the right time,” though she did not provide specific reasons behind the move.
The leadership change follows ongoing police efforts to identify and apprehend suspects involved in a deadly, gang-related shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle last weekend. Authorities arrested a 15-year-old at the scene who has been charged with assault; however, reports indicate that the firearm he discharged was not linked to the deaths of two bystanders.
Both Mayor Wilson and former Police Chief Shon Barnes faced criticism for their delayed release of crucial information about the incident, including whether any suspects remained at large. Barnes, the city’s second Black police chief, was recognized for enhancing officer recruitment and contributing to downtown crime reduction. His removal sparked public backlash, with several Black community groups, a prominent business coalition, and multiple City Council members expressing disapproval.
At a Friday news conference introducing Andre Sayles, a Seattle deputy chief appointed as interim police chief, Mayor Wilson acknowledged Barnes’s contributions but emphasized that her position gave her a deeper understanding of the police department’s operations. She noted that the recent shooting was only one of several factors leading to her decision.
“There were multiple factors,” Wilson stated. “The events of Sunday played into it.”
Interim Chief Sayles announced plans to increase police presence at public festivals throughout the summer and expressed confidence that investigators are close to identifying and arresting additional suspects connected to the shooting.
The violence erupted late on the final day of the Bite of Seattle festival, an event attracting hundreds of food vendors, retailers, and performers over three days. The shooting resulted in three deaths, including a suspect, and left four others injured-among them a 2-year-old boy.