Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned Thursday, July 30, 2026, four days after a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival left three people dead and four wounded near the Space Needle. Mayor Katie Wilson announced she had accepted Barnes’ resignation and appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, a veteran with more than two decades in law enforcement, as interim chief.
Wilson said the decision involved multiple factors and was not solely due to the events of Sunday, though it came amid intense criticism of the department’s handling of the aftermath. The shooting erupted around 6 p.m. on July 26 during the popular three-day festival at Seattle Center. Police described it as a targeted, apparently gang-related gunfight in which shots were fired into a crowd.
Among the dead were two bystanders, Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, and one suspected shooter, Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19. A 15-year-old was taken into custody after an officer persuaded him to surrender. At least one other person of interest remained under investigation. One of the wounded was a two-year-old boy who was later released from the hospital.
Criticism centered on the slow and initially incomplete release of information to the public. After an early social-media post, nearly five hours passed before police provided further details about whether an active threat continued. Early reports about the number of arrests also required correction. Barnes was attending a law-enforcement conference out of town when the gunfire occurred, which added to scrutiny of his absences.
Barnes, appointed in late 2024 after leading the force in Madison, Wisconsin, inherited a department grappling with staffing shortages, low morale, and lingering distrust from the 2020 protests. In a statement released through his attorneys, he said he was surprised by the mayor’s request but voluntarily resigned, believing it was the best path forward for the city, which is still reeling from the shock and pain.
He called it an honor to have served Seattle and expressed hope the transition would refocus efforts on addressing youth gun violence. Some City Council members and community leaders criticized the rapid leadership change, citing prior turnover and the need for stability. Wilson thanked Barnes for his service while emphasizing the city’s ongoing public-safety priorities. The investigation into the shooting continues.
