Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson faced public and media criticism following a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival that killed three people and injured at least four others. The incident, which occurred Sunday evening, led to public frustration over the city's official response and the terminology used by law enforcement.
During a press conference Monday, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes referred to gangs as 'small groups' when discussing the shooting, which is believed to have been gang-related. Barnes stated that "0.01% of the population is connected to 52 percent of our shootings, most of which are young people." Authorities have identified one of the deceased, 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, as one of the suspected perpetrators.
Mayor Wilson's office issued a statement nearly three hours after the shooting, which reportedly contained incorrect information. The initial press conference was delayed twice, further increasing public anxiety. At a subsequent press conference, Wilson defended the timing of the information release, stating, "There’s a tension here between providing information quickly and providing information accurately." She explained that releasing unverified information could lead to confusion.
Police Chief Barnes also faced pointed questions about his whereabouts during the incident. Barnes, who was attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers Conference in Dallas, Texas, when the shooting occurred, engaged in a heated exchange with a reporter who questioned his presence in the city. Barnes defended his absence, stating, "I wish that I had a crystal ball and we could schedule gun violence, but we can’t." He also stated he had a medical procedure on Friday and had been working hard for the city.
The victims of the shooting have been identified as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19, who is believed to be one of the shooters. Villalba, a father of three, died at the scene, while Whitehead, a mother of two, died later at the hospital. Whitehead was reportedly waiting in line for cotton candy with her daughter and future son-in-law when the shooting began.
A 15-year-old suspect is in custody, and authorities are searching for at least one other suspect.
