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Mayor apologizes for city’s botched response to the public after Bite of Seattle shooting
KOMO • • nation
Key Points:
- Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson apologized for the delayed public communication following the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival, citing miscommunication between her office and Seattle police that caused hours-long delays in releasing key information.
- Initial public updates were slow, with the first press conference held five hours after the shooting, and an early statement incorrectly reporting two suspects detained instead of one.
- Mayor Wilson and Governor Bob Ferguson had received virtual briefings hours before addressing the public, but a media briefing was delayed to allow "dignitaries" to be present, causing further frustration.
- Ferguson's office clarified that elected officials were advised not to go to the active crime scene, leading to a delayed joint public appearance that sparked backlash against city leadership.
- Wilson acknowledged the public's frustration and committed to implementing new processes and protocols to prevent similar communication failures in future emergencies.
