SEATTLE — Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned on Thursday following criticism of the department's handling of a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival, Mayor Katie Wilson said, naming Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief.
The July 26 shooting at Seattle Center killed three people and wounded four others, including a toddler, according to the Seattle Police Department. Police said officers at the festival responded within seconds of hearing gunfire and arrested a 15-year-old suspect. The department later said investigators believed multiple people were involved in the shooting.
The resignation followed scrutiny over delays in public communication after the shooting and an inaccurate initial public statement about arrests, according to local officials and media reports. Wilson acknowledged shortcomings in the city's response and said the administration would focus on improving public safety and addressing youth gun violence.
Barnes, who became Seattle's police chief in 2024, was not in the city when the shooting occurred, according to reports. He had been attending a law enforcement conference in Texas.
Wilson said Sayles would serve as interim chief while the city searches for a permanent replacement. The mayor's office did not immediately provide further details on the circumstances of Barnes' resignation.
The investigation into the festival shooting remains ongoing, with police continuing to seek information about those involved. Authorities have said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
