Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned following criticism of the police department's response to a shooting that occurred during the Bite of Seattle food festival. Mayor Katie Wilson announced his resignation on Thursday, four days after the incident, which resulted in three deaths, including one suspected shooter, and four injuries. The police department faced backlash for a five-hour delay in communication between the initial social media post and the first press conference, leading to public uncertainty about ongoing threats.
In his resignation statement, Barnes praised the professionalism of the police officers involved in the aftermath of the shooting. He expressed pride in their efforts and confidence in the future of the department's community-based policing vision. Mayor Wilson also acknowledged the officers' courage and emphasized the need to focus on addressing youth gun violence.
Deputy Chief Andre Sayles has been appointed as the interim chief. Wilson is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday to introduce Sayles and discuss the process for selecting a permanent police chief.
In related developments, a 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the shooting and faces charges of first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. A second suspect remains at large. Authorities believe the incident may be gang-related, and the weapon used was identified as a ghost gun from a defunct manufacturer.