Seattle officials slammed for delayed briefing on shooting

Seattle officials faced intense scrutiny on Monday, July 27, 2026, over their handling of public communications following a mass shooting that killed three people and wounded four others at a popular food festival the previous evening. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, at the Bite of Seattle event near the Space Needle, but a full press conference with city leaders did not take place until nearly 11 p.m., leaving a five-hour gap that fueled public frustration and criticism.

The victims included two men, ages 19 and 44, who died at the scene, and a 56-year-old woman who later died at Harborview Medical Center. Four other people were wounded, among them a 2-year-old boy who was reported in satisfactory condition on Monday. Authorities described a chaotic scene where they believe three individuals exchanged gunfire. One suspect, a 15-year-old male, was taken into custody on suspicion of firearms violations and first-degree assault. Another suspect was killed during the incident, and police said Monday they were still searching for at least one other possible shooter.

Mayor Katie Wilson and Police Chief Shon Barnes defended the delayed official updates during a...