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Interim SPD chief: investigation ongoing after Bite of Seattle shootings; council seeks OIG review and Sept. 22 operational debrief
Summary
Interim Chief Andre Sales told the Public Safety Committee investigators are drafting search warrants and that roughly 200 personnel responded to the Bite of Seattle shooting; council members pressed for clarity on a multi‑hour public‑information delay and the mayor's office requested an independent OIG after‑action review.
Interim Seattle Police Department Chief Andre Sales told the Public Safety Committee on Aug. 11 that the criminal investigation into the July shooting at the Bite of Seattle is ongoing, that detectives are preparing search warrants, and that officers and partner agencies conducted a large, multi‑unit response.
"We're working on some search warrants, as of today," Sales said. He told the committee SPD had about 200 personnel either on scene or responding to the incident and said SWAT contained the main shooter within "20 to 30 seconds" of the first shot being fired. Sales said officers immediately began life‑saving efforts and that the department will complete a debrief and present a fuller account at a planned Sept. 22 committee meeting.
Council members pressed for details about command, communications and public briefings. Councilmember Juarez repeatedly asked why the public did not receive more information in the first hours after the shooting and noted there had been a sizable gap between the shooting and later on‑site press conferences. Juarez asked that Detective Brian Pritchard and Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis attend a follow‑up Sept. 22 session; Captain Ward, the officer on scene, confirmed he was present that night and described operational constraints.
Allison Holcomb of the mayor’s office told the committee the mayor requested an independent after‑action review by the Office of Inspector General focused on the city’s public information flow. "Inspector General Judge has indicated that she will in all likelihood bring in experts on mass shooting events," Holcomb said, adding the mayor's office aims to publish a final OIG report in the fall and will provide texts and records for the review.
Council members and the mayor’s office said the OIG review and SPD’s operational after‑action review are complementary: the OIG will examine where communications broke down, while the Sept. 22 meeting will focus on tactical and staffing lessons. Chair Robert Kettle scheduled Sept. 22 to convene department leaders, detectives and other staff for a higher‑level operational review and asked SPD to bring additional senior staff.
