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Police chief resigns days after deadly shooting in US city of Seattle
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned following a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival that left three dead and four injured, amid criticism of the city's communication after the incident.
- Deputy Chief Andre Sayles was named interim police chief; Barnes had been appointed in late 2024 and was the city's second Black police chief.
- The shooting involved a 15-year-old suspect who surrendered, but police are still searching for at least one other suspect; Barnes was out of town during the incident.
- Mayor Katie Wilson acknowledged shortcomings in public communication, including a nearly five-hour delay in updates and incorrect statements about suspect arrests.
- Barnes received support from community organizations and some city council members who credited him with improving police-community relations and reducing gun violence, cautioning against making him a scapegoat.
