Seattle Mayor Names Andre Sayles Interim Police Chief After Bite Of Seattle Shooting
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson on Friday named Deputy Chief Andre Sayles interim police chief after Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned amid criticism of the city's response to the Bite of Seattle shooting at Seattle Center.[1]
Sayles said the ongoing investigation into the Bite of Seattle shooting is a top priority and that the department will increase staffing at all remaining major summer events.[1] Wilson said the search for a permanent chief will use a committee, stress operational excellence and organizational change, and give Seattle residents a voice in the selection.[1]
The July 26 Bite of Seattle shootout at Seattle Center left three people dead, including one suspect, and four wounded, including a 2-year-old boy.[2] Police are still searching for at least one additional suspect.[2]
PBS reported communication lapses after the shooting, including a nearly five-hour gap between the first social media alert and any substantive police update, plus a mistaken mayoral statement that two people were in custody.[2] Several Black community groups, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, issued an open letter opposing Barnes' removal and saying he had improved community relations and helped reduce gun violence.[2] Seattle police confirmed Barnes made four trips to Chicago this year totaling about 18 days, along with travel to police conferences, a point of earlier internal criticism.[2] Barnes was appointed chief in December 2024 by former Mayor Bruce Harrell and was retained by Wilson after her 2025 election.[2]
Barnes' resignation statement, released via his attorney, said Wilson requested his resignation on Wednesday, July 29, and that he believed stepping down was the best path forward.[2] Police say bullets that killed two people at the festival were not fired from the arrested teen's gun.[3]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned amid criticism of the city's response to the Bite of Seattle shooting (Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson).
- Barnes’ resignation statement, released via his attorney, said Wilson requested his resignation on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and that he believed stepping down was the best path forward while the city reels from the shooting (Barnes’ resignation statement).
- Wilson appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim police chief (announcement reported Friday, July 31, 2026) (Deputy Chief Andre Sayles).
- Andre Sayles said the ongoing investigation into the Bite of Seattle shooting remains a top priority and that the department will increase staffing at all remaining major summer events (Andre Sayles).
- The July 26, 2026 Bite of Seattle shootout at Seattle Center left three people dead, including one suspect, and four wounded — including a 2-year-old boy — and police are still searching for at least one additional suspect (Bite of Seattle shootout).
- PBS reported communication lapses after the shooting, including a nearly five-hour gap between the first social media alert and any substantive police update and a mistaken mayoral statement that two people were in custody (nearly five-hour gap).
- Several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, issued an open letter opposing Barnes’ removal, arguing he had improved community relations and reduced gun violence (Seattle NAACP).
- Seattle police confirmed Barnes made four trips to Chicago this year, totaling about 18 days, in addition to travel to police conferences — a point of prior internal criticism (four trips to Chicago).
- Wilson said the search for a permanent police chief will include a committee, will emphasize candidates who can drive operational excellence and organizational change, and that Seattle residents will have a voice in the selection (search for a permanent police chief).
- Barnes was appointed chief in December 2024 by former Mayor Bruce Harrell and was retained by Wilson after her 2025 election, despite her earlier support for defunding the police (appointed chief in December 2024).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Friday, July 31, 2026, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim police chief following Shon Barnes' resignation.
- Wilson said she chose Sayles because he previously served as a police chief in Wisconsin, leading with a community-focused approach that she said strengthened public safety and trust.
- Sayles stated that the ongoing investigation into the Bite of Seattle shooting at Seattle Center remains a top priority and that the department will increase staffing at all remaining major summer events.
- Wilson said the search for a permanent police chief will include a committee and will emphasize candidates who can drive operational excellence and organizational change, and she pledged that Seattle residents will have a voice in the selection.
- Barnes’ resignation statement, released via his attorney, said Wilson requested his resignation on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and that he believed stepping down was the best path forward while the city reels from the shooting.
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned amid criticism of the city’s response to the Bite of Seattle shooting.
- Wilson appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, a law enforcement veteran with more than two decades of experience, as interim chief.
- The article reiterates that the July 26, 2026 Bite of Seattle shootout left three people dead, including one suspect, and four wounded, including a 2-year-old boy, and notes that police are still searching for at least one additional suspect.
- It details communication lapses after the shooting, including a nearly five-hour gap between the first social media alert and any substantive police update, and a mistaken mayoral statement that two people were in custody.
- Several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, issued an open letter opposing Barnes’ removal, arguing he improved community relations and reduced gun violence.
- Seattle police confirmed Barnes has made four trips to Chicago this year, totaling about 18 days, to visit family, alongside travel to police conferences, a point of prior internal criticism.
- The article notes Barnes was appointed chief in December 2024 by former Mayor Bruce Harrell and retained by Wilson after her 2025 election despite her earlier support for defunding police.
- The tension over Barnes’ status comes as Seattle prepares for Seafair Weekend Festival 2026, another large public event beginning Friday, July 31, 2026.