Seattle mayor says police chief has resigned after criticism of festival shooting response

Seattle's Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned following criticism of the city's handling of a fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival last weekend. Mayor Katie Wilson announced Barnes' resignation Thursday, ending hours of speculation about his tenure.

The announcement came after some supporters claimed Barnes had resisted Wilson's request to step down. Wilson stated she is appointing Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, a veteran with over two decades of law enforcement experience, as interim chief. Barnes, who was out of town at a law enforcement conference when the shooting occurred, told The Seattle Times that his position was "up to the mayor."

The shooting at the annual festival, which draws hundreds of vendors and performers, left three people dead, including one suspect, and four wounded. Among the injured was a 2-year-old boy. While officers were present and one quickly persuaded a 15-year-old suspect to surrender, police are still searching for at least one other individual involved.

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whether he remains chief is "up to the mayor."

Both the Seattle Police Department and Mayor Wilson faced criticism for slow and confusing communication in the aftermath of the shooting. It took nearly five hours for police to provide further details beyond an initial social media post, including whether an ongoing threat existed. Wilson's statement that two people were in custody was later retracted.

Barnes, Seattle's second Black police chief, received support from several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. In an open letter, they defended him, crediting him with improving community relations, reducing gun violence, and strengthening departmental operations. They argued that his departure was the "wrong decision at the wrong time" and that he should not be made a scapegoat for complex public safety issues.

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This is the wrong decision at the wrong time and would disrupt Seattle's progress in public safety. The tragic fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle was heartbreaking for our city, but Chief Barnes should not be made a scapegoat for the complex challenges of public safety.