Text messages released by Washington Governor Bob Ferguson’s office have shed new light on the nearly five-hour delay before officials addressed the public after the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting.
Three people were killed and four others injured when gunfire broke out at Seattle Center during the food festival at about 6pm on July 26. Thousands of visitors and vendors were at the event when shots were fired.
The messages, shared as screenshots, show confusion among senior officials over whether a press conference was taking place and who had been informed. Ferguson and US Representative Pramila Jayapal were apparently under the impression that they would attend a briefing the following morning.
That changed at 10.08pm, when they were told a media conference would be held at Seattle Center. The first briefing began at about 10.45pm, according to the governor’s office.
In one exchange, Ms Jayapal wrote: “Give me a ring I’m wondering if we should be there at all. I’m not confident she knows what she is doing.”
Governor Ferguson replied: “Spoke w mayor. Asked her to call u directly.”
Ms Jayapal then wrote: “They’re waiting for both of us” and “I will be there in 15 minutes”.
Another exchange suggests she was angry after a Seattle police detective told journalists that the department had been waiting for dignitaries to arrive before holding the briefing.
“I’m having Rachel call Brian and say this is outrageous that someone said the delay was because of dignitaries,” Ms Jayapal wrote. “You may also want to have your folks do that also.”
She added: “We can raise it directly to her also” and asked: “Do you have confirmation of the presser at 11 yet? We don’t.”
Seattle officials face scrutiny over shooting communications
The governor’s office said Ferguson and his team were surprised that the public and media had not already received a proper briefing on the shooting before the late-night conference.
A separate timeline published by the Seattle City Council shows that senior local, state and federal officials took part in a briefing call at 8.57pm. The first news conference involving police and elected officials followed at about 10.50pm. ([council.seattle.gov](https://council.seattle.gov/2026/08/11/councilmember-kettle-bite-of-seattle-timeline/?utm_source=openai))
Messages previously attributed to staff in Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s office indicated that an earlier briefing had been delayed. At 9.42pm, a message sent to police officials reportedly said: “Mayor’s on her way. Please wait for her.”
Mayor Wilson subsequently asked the city’s Office of Inspector General to conduct an independent review of how information was handled after the shooting. The review is examining the timing and effectiveness of communication between emergency responders, government agencies and the public, with findings expected to be completed by mid-December. ([wilson.seattle.gov](https://wilson.seattle.gov/2026/08/11/mayor-wilson-asks-citys-inspector-general-to-review-public-information-response-following-bite-of-seattle-shooting/?utm_source=openai))
The Seattle Police Department has also released internal messages relating to the incident, while saying that communications involving former chief Shon Barnes were still being recovered and prepared for publication. ([spdblotter.seattle.gov](https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2026/09/16/seattle-police-department-releases-department-text-messages-from-bite-of-seattle/?utm_source=openai))
Police said seven people were struck by gunfire outside the Seattle Center Armory. A 15-year-old suspect was arrested and charged, while detectives continued to investigate the involvement of others. ([spdblotter.seattle.gov](https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2026/07/27/gun-violence-at-seattle-center-takes-three-lives/?utm_source=openai))
The investigation and scrutiny of the delayed public response remain ongoing.
