Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned Thursday under pressure from Mayor Katie Wilson, who called for his departure amid mounting frustration over the department’s sluggish communication following a deadly shootout at the Bite of Seattle food festival last weekend that left three people dead and four others wounded, including a 2-year-old boy. The resignation capped hours of speculation after supporters of Barnes said he had initially rebuffed the mayor’s request to step down. Wilson moved quickly to name Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, a law enforcement veteran with more than two decades on the job, as interim chief.

The fallout stems from what Wilson acknowledged was a deeply flawed response in the hours after gunfire erupted Saturday evening at the annual festival, which draws hundreds of vendors and performers and attracts large crowds. After an initial social media post announcing the shooting, nearly five hours passed before police provided any additional information to the public about whether there was an ongoing threat. The city also failed to activate its emergency alert system. Wilson herself announced that two people had been taken into custody, only to later retract that statement. Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis finally briefed reporters around 11 p.m., joined by the mayor, Governor Bob Ferguson, and Representative Pramila Jayapal. Wilson said Thursday she had not realized how little information had reached the public during those critical hours and wished she had demanded an immediate briefing rather than waiting for a formal press conference.

Barnes was out of town at a law enforcement conference when the violence broke out, though dozens of officers were already stationed at the event and at least one witnessed a 15-year-old suspect firing into a crowd before persuading him to surrender, according to court documents. Police are still searching for at least one other suspect. In a statement, Barnes called it an honor to serve Seattle and said he hoped the transition would allow the city to refocus on addressing youth gun violence. He had faced separate criticism for spending time in Chicago, where his family lives, with a department spokesperson confirming he made four trips there this year totaling roughly 18 days.

His departure drew sharp pushback from several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, which argued in an open letter that he should not be made a scapegoat for broader public safety challenges. They credited him with improving community relations, reducing gun violence, and strengthening department operations. At least six City Council members also voiced support for Barnes, with four signing a statement noting that Seattle has now had four police chiefs in less than three years. Their priority, they wrote, should be stability rather than further disruption. The resignation comes just as Seattle prepares for another major event, the Seafair Weekend Festival, which begins Friday and will test the department’s leadership transition under intense public scrutiny.