Internal messages released after the Bite of Seattle shooting reveal confusion among Seattle officials, delays in public communication and disagreement over whether Mayor Katie Wilson should attend the scene as the city dealt with the aftermath of the deadly attack.
Three people were killed and four others injured when gunfire broke out near the Seattle Center Armory on 26 July. The messages, shared by the mayor’s office, show senior officials attempting to establish what had happened while facing pressure to provide an immediate public account.
Officials struggled to establish a public response
A group text involving Mayor Wilson, public safety director Alison Holcomb, deputy mayor Brian Surratt, communications staff and Seattle Police Department personnel began shortly after the shooting.
Wilson offered to make herself available and asked about arranging a press conference. She also told colleagues that she had spoken to Governor Bob Ferguson and US Representative Pramila Jayapal, who was preparing to travel to Seattle.
But by about 8.28pm, more than two hours after the shooting, staff were still discussing the need for a public statement. The messages also noted that police had not issued an update for two hours.
The mayor eventually released a statement after police approval, while acknowledging to staff that it was “very general so it won’t satisfy anyone looking for actual information”.
Shortly afterwards, Mr Surratt warned that the statement contained a serious error. “The statement says 2 suspects in custody,” he wrote. “This is not accurate. Please revise.”
Dispute over mayor’s appearance
The messages also expose disagreement over how and where Ms Wilson should appear publicly. Staff initially advised against sending her to the scene because a suspect might still be nearby.
When a journalist contacted the mayor directly, she asked her team whether she should respond, writing: “I’m sure they would love to spin an ‘absent mayor’ story.”
At 9.35pm, Ms Holcomb asked whether the police department would hold a media briefing and said the mayor needed to attend if it did. Staff replied that one had been scheduled for 9.45pm.
Ms Holcomb then asked where the mayor should join the briefing, saying she had been keeping her away from the scene and Harborview Medical Centre but did not want the media to think she was absent. A later message told colleagues: “Mayor’s on her way. Please wait for her.”
The briefing was eventually held at about 10.50pm, according to a timeline published by Seattle City Council member Robert Kettle. The council account records the first Seattle Police Department post about the shooting at 6.29pm and says the mayor’s statement was being amended at 8.51pm.
One staff member warned that reporters were “getting antsy” as the delay continued. Another said organisers were waiting for Ms Jayapal and the governor to arrive.
Review ordered after Bite of Seattle shooting
Mayor Wilson has since asked Seattle’s Office of Inspector General to conduct an independent review of the city’s handling of public information after the Bite of Seattle shooting.
The review will examine the timing and effectiveness of communications, identify the causes of any delays and recommend changes to the city’s procedures. Its findings are expected to be published by mid-December.
The city has also said it will seek to provide media updates within an hour of a significant incident when it is safe and possible to do so. Officials acknowledged that the city’s emergency alert system was not used after the shooting.
Seattle Police said seven people were struck by gunfire outside the Armory. A 15-year-old was arrested in connection with the violence, while police said detectives were continuing to investigate the involvement of others.
