Texts Reveal Concerns Among Ferguson, Jayapal During Delayed Response to Bite of Seattle Shooting
Hundreds of text screenshots show state and Seattle officials believed a briefing would wait until the next morning, while police said they waited for dignitaries.
- Newly released text messages from Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's office reveal chaotic coordination among city and state leaders following the July 26 Bite of Seattle shooting, which saw a nearly five-hour delay in official public briefings.
- On Sunday, July 26, the shooting occurred outside the Seattle Center Armory at about 6 p.m., killing three people and injuring four; internal police messages showed confusion over who was in command and incomplete information sharing.
- Citing the arrival of "dignitaries," Seattle Police Department officials attributed the briefing delay to waiting for Ferguson and Representative Pramila Jayapal, leaving media outside the Space Needle for nearly five hours.
- Representative Jayapal questioned Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's competence, writing to Ferguson she was "not confident she knows what she is doing" and directing staff to call the delay attribution "outrageous."
- The Seattle Office of Inspector General will examine these communication failures in the coming weeks, as Wilson has acknowledged shortcomings in the response and committed to strengthening public safety practices.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Rep. Jayapal doubted Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s leadership over mass shooting response in texts with governor
Progressive House Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) doubted Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's leadership as officials scrutinized her response to the deadly mass shooting at a food festival.
Texts reveal concerns among Ferguson, Jayapal during delayed response to Bite of Seattle shooting
Newly obtained text messages from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office provide a behind-the-scenes look at conversations among top Washington politicians during the chaotic aftermath of the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival, as the public waited hours for official information.
Everett Post
Seattle Mayor doesn't 'know what she's doing,' wrote lawmaker after shooting
(The Center Square) - U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal questioned the competence of Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson during the confusion over the news conference after the July 26 Bite of Seattle triple-fatal shooting, new records The Center Square obtained Thursday show. At 10:12 p.m., Jayapal messaged [...]
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