Seattle police chief resigns amid fallout from mass shooting, mayor names interim chief - KOMO

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned, and Mayor Katie Wilson has appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief, according to a mayor's office announcement made Thursday, July 30, 2026.
The leadership change follows the mass shooting at Bite of Seattle on Sunday, July 26, which left three people dead and four others injured.
Both the Mayor's Office and Barnes faced scrutiny over their communication with reporters and the public in the immediate aftermath and the days that followed the attack.
Councilmembers indicated that Mayor Wilson had asked Barnes to step down, and Wilson said she accepted his letter of resignation in a release issued shortly after 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
In his statement, Barnes praised the department's professionalism, expressed support for community-based policing, and said he hoped the transition would let the city refocus on addressing youth gun violence and preventing future tragedies.
Wilson released a video statement acknowledging "real gaps" in the city's communication strategy, citing miscommunications between SPD and her office that caused delays in information, including a criticized late news conference and a failure to use the Seattle Alert system.