Police chief resigns days after deadly shooting in US city of Seattle
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned following criticism over the city's communication during a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival. Mayor Katie Wilson appointed an interim chief while the city faces scrutiny for its handling of the incident's aftermath.
Why it matters
The resignation highlights the political and public pressure on law enforcement leadership regarding crisis communication and public safety management.
Shon Barnes steps down amid questions over authorities’ handling of the shooting at a popular food festival.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes speaks during a vigil on July 27, 2026, a day after the Bite of Seattle food festival shooting [David Ryder/Getty Images via AFP] By Al Jazeera Staff and The Associated Press Published On 31 Jul 2026 31 Jul 2026 Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned less than a week after a deadly shooting at one of the US city’s largest summer festivals as questions have mounted over the authorities’ handling of its aftermath.
Mayor Katie Wilson announced Barnes’s resignation on Thursday and named Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, a police officer with more than two decades of law enforcement experience, as interim chief.
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