'Please wait for her': Seattle mayor delayed Bite of Seattle shooting briefing, texts show
SPD releases text messages from Bite of Seattle shooting
Newly released internal text messages from the Seattle Police Department reveal what caused the delay in the release of public information and why it took them over five hours to hold a press conference.
SEATTLE - The Seattle Police Department has released text messages detailing the internal communications between police leadership during the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting, explaining the five-hour delay in public safety updates.
The texts are from nine department leaders, starting just before initial reports of the July 26 shooting. The records include messages from the following personnel:
- Interim Chief Andre Sayles
- Deputy Chief Yvonne Underwood
- Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis
- Assistant Chief Nicole Powell
- Chief Operations Officer Sarah Smith
- Captain George Davisson
- Jennifer Sullivan
- Lieutenant Sage Farwell
- Detective Brian Pritchard
Text messages from former Seattle police Chief Shon Barnes were not released. The department said it will provide the former chief's communications once they are recovered from his account.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 26: Police officers keep watch after a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival on July 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. Two people are dead and multiple people are wounded. Seattle mayor Katie Wilson said one sus (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
Timeline:
The text messages reveal that by 6:39 p.m. on the night of the incident, Smith texted Pritchard that seven people had been shot at Seattle Center and two had died. Initially, there were differing accounts about whether the shooting was gang-related or terror-related.
Smith texts a group chat with Chief Barnes, Sayles, Davis, and Underwood at 6:48 p.m. saying, "Is there a conference call on this?"
Davis responds a minute later, "I hope not. Let the incident stabilized 1st please."
Text from Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis on the Bite of Seattle shooting response.
An internal briefing with Barnes was scheduled for 8:30 p.m., along with another at 9 p.m. with Mayor Katie Wilson and Governor Bob Ferguson.
A public press conference regarding the shooting was initially planned for 9:45 p.m. However, at 9:42 p.m., mayoral public safety director Alison Holcomb texted Davis, Smith, and Barnes stating, "Mayor's on her way. Please wait for her."
An internal text from mayoral public safety director Alison Holcomb to Seattle Police leadership saying "Mayor's on her way. Please wait for her." before a planned press conference.
Additional messages show Smith texting Barnes at 10:22 p.m. that briefings "were delayed because they were waiting for the mayor to arrive."
Minutes later, Smith texts, "Sigh. Now they are waiting for the Governor to show up before they do it. So it's gonna happen, but they're still just waiting for him now."
The backstory:
The text message release follows ongoing public scrutiny regarding a nearly five-hour delay for a press briefing after the shooting. While the Mayor's Office denied causing any delay, an internal email from Pritchard stated that on-scene briefings were delayed as police were waiting for dignitaries to arrive.
Mayor Katie Wilson's office previously released its own set of communications before Labor Day weekend.
Texts reveal Mayor’s Office confusion while navigating Bite of Seattle shooting response
Internal text messages released more than a month after the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting reveal behind-the-scenes confusion, delayed communications, and internal debate among city officials in the hours following the violence.
Three people died and five others were injured in the shooting that occurred during the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center. Police believe the shooting was gang-related, and at least one additional suspect is on the loose.
What's next:
The Seattle City Council will continue to seek testimony regarding the Bite of Seattle response, with a Public Safety Committee scheduled for Sept. 22.
The full log of Seattle Police internal text messages can be found on the department's blotter post.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the Seattle Police Department and previous FOX 13 Seattle reporting.