Seattle Mayor Justifies Police Chief’s Removal Amid Festival Gunfire Probe

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson stepped forward on Friday to defend her decision to remove the city’s police chief, calling it the right decision at the right time. However, she did not disclose specific reasons for the leadership shift.

The change in police leadership occurred as authorities continued their investigation into a deadly gang-related shooting at a food festival near the Space Needle the previous weekend. At the scene, a 15-year-old was arrested and charged with assault; documents indicate the gun involved wasn’t connected to the deaths of two bystanders.

Wilson and the former Police Chief Shon Barnes came under criticism for their delayed release of crucial details regarding the shootout on Sunday. This included whether suspects were still at large.

Barnes, Seattle’s second Black police chief, earned praise for enhancing officer recruitment and reducing downtown crime rates. Yet, Wilson’s decision to replace Barnes drew criticism from numerous Black community organizations, a major business group, and several City Council members.

A visual from July 26, 2026, showed a police officer walking past a sign for the Bite of Seattle food festival. David Ryder / Getty Images.

During a Friday news conference, joined by Andre Sayles, a Seattle deputy chief appointed interim chief, Wilson acknowledged Barnes’ service. She emphasized her mayoral role providing clearer insight into the Seattle Police Department’s operations than what critics perceive.

Wilson disclosed that the mass shooting event wasn’t the sole factor prompting Barnes’ resignation. There were multiple factors, she mentioned, the events of Sunday played into it.

Sayles affirmed at the news conference that police staffing at public festivals would be heightened throughout the summer. He expected investigators are nearing the arrest of additional shootout suspects.

The shooting took place in the closing hours of the ‘Bite of Seattle,’ a famous three-day event featuring hundreds of food and retail vendors and performers. Three people died, including a suspect, and four others sustained injuries. Among the wounded was a 2-year-old boy.