Seattle Detective Disputes 5-Hour Bite of Seattle Briefing Delay Explanation at 3-Death Hearing
Updated
Updated · KOMO News · Aug 12
Seattle Detective Disputes 5-Hour Bite of Seattle Briefing Delay Explanation at 3-Death Hearing
3 articles · Updated · KOMO News · Aug 12
Summary
Detective Brian Pritchard wrote on July 28 that the city's claim the July 26 press briefing was not delayed for "dignitaries" was "not accurate," directly contradicting Mayor Katie Wilson's and former Chief Shon Barnes' public account.
At a nearly two-hour City Council hearing, members pressed interim Chief Andre Sayles and public safety director Alison Holcomb on who delayed information after the 6 p.m. shooting that killed 3 and wounded 4, including a child.
Councilmembers Debora Juarez and Dan Strauss said the issue was factual, not merely political, arguing Seattle residents went to sleep without clear safety information and questioning why Pritchard and other on-scene figures were absent.
Holcomb said she knew of no direct mayoral order to delay the briefing and pointed to an outside Office of Inspector General investigation, while the mayor's office said Wilson joined calls from home but had camera connection problems.
The dispute deepens scrutiny of the city's response to a shooting in which a 15-year-old has been arrested but not charged with murder, and the next council hearing is set for Sept. 22 as the OIG probe may take weeks or months.