Governor's office says it had no role in Seattle police's delayed briefing after shooting
Text messages released by Governor Bob Ferguson's office show his staff had no involvement in the timing of Seattle police's public update following a mass shooting at Seattle Center.
Seattle police held their first news conference about five hours after a mass shooting at Seattle Center, beginning at roughly 10:50 p.m. on Sunday. Reporters were initially told a briefing would start at 9:45 p.m., but a police officer later said the delay was to allow "dignitaries" to arrive. The Assistant Chief of Police delivered the briefing in place of Police Chief Shon Barnes, and Mayor Katie Wilson, Governor Bob Ferguson and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal also addressed the media.
City officials informed Governor Ferguson during conference calls at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. that the Seattle Center remained an active crime scene and advised elected officials to avoid the area. Ferguson followed that guidance until he learned around 10:10 p.m. that the mayor planned to go to Seattle Center for a media availability. He arrived at about 10:30 p.m., and the press event started near 11 p.m.
Between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., Seattle police issued only one public social-media post at 6:29 p.m., stating they were investigating a shooting with multiple victims and urging people to stay away from the area. During the same period, several public officials, including Rep. Jayapal, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Governor Ferguson, released statements. Mayor Wilson posted a blog entry between 8:30 and 9 p.m. that initially claimed two suspects were in custody; the post was later edited to say one suspect was in custody.
Text messages obtained by the governor's office show communication between the governor’s chief of staff and Seattle’s deputy mayor indicating that the governor’s office had no role in deciding what the police communicated to the public during the investigation.