Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned on Thursday in response to criticism surrounding the handling of a fatal shootout at the Bite of Seattle food festival last weekend. Mayor Katie Wilson announced the resignation, which came after speculation about Barnes stepping down, with some of his supporters suggesting he rejected Wilson’s request.
Mayor Wilson appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as the interim chief. Sayles is a seasoned law enforcement veteran with over 20 years of experience.
Barnes informed The Seattle Times earlier that his status as chief was at the discretion of the mayor. On Thursday, Barnes confirmed he was off duty, spending time with his family.
The mayor expressed gratitude for Barnes’ service. In his statement, Barnes highlighted the honor of serving the city and hoped the transition would refocus efforts on youth gun violence and tragedy prevention.
Barnes was attending a law enforcement conference when the shootout occurred. The incident led to three deaths, including one suspect, and injuries to four individuals, one as young as two years old. Court documents state that officers on-site observed a 15-year-old suspect firing into the crowd and persuaded him to surrender. Authorities are still searching for at least one other suspect.
Mayor Wilson commended the swift police action, noting it potentially saved lives. However, she admitted the city was slow to provide information post-incident. Despite an initial social media post, the public waited nearly five hours for further updates, including the status of any ongoing threats. The city failed to utilize its emergency alert system for notifications.
Wilson later retracted a statement about two individuals being detained. Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis shared updates during an 11 p.m. news conference alongside Wilson, Governor Bob Ferguson, and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal. Wilson noted, “What I did not fully understand in that moment was how little information had reached the public or the press since the incident began at 6 p.m. Had I known that, I would have pushed for an immediate briefing.”
Barnes was Seattle’s second Black police chief. Multiple Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, supported Barnes, acknowledging his role in improving community relations, reducing gun violence, and enhancing department operations.
The organizations argued Barnes should not be a scapegoat for public safety challenges. Six City Council members issued statements backing Barnes, advocating for stability over further disruption.
Barnes was initially appointed by previous Mayor Bruce Harrell in December 2024, following his term as chief in Madison, Wisconsin. When Wilson, a democratic socialist previously in favor of police defunding, won the mayoral race last year, she maintained Barnes as chief. This decision indicated no drastic deviation from prior public safety approaches.
Jon Scholes, president of the Downtown Seattle Association, emphasized the importance of maintaining progress in public safety measures under the next chief. “Seattle had been on a positive course on public safety with police hiring trending up and crime trending down,” he stated.
Barnes faced scrutiny regarding personal trips to Chicago, where his family is based. He reportedly made four trips totaling 18 days this year. The resignation occurs as the city prepares for the Seafair Weekend Festival 2026, featuring boating events, air shows, and other festivities starting Friday.
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