‘I can’t say yes or no’: Interim SPD chief backtracks on third Bite of Seattle shooting suspect

Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles was unable to confirm or deny a third suspect in the Bite of Seattle shooting — a stark contrast to former Seattle Chief Shon Barnes’ previous claim that there was an additional gunman on the loose.

Sayles was asked during a Seattle City Council public safety hearing Tuesday: “Is there a killer on the loose? Yes or no.”

“Speaking with my detectives this morning, we’re combing through some warrants and looking at some things,” Sayles responded. “We still have to comb through some video surveillance that was there. I can’t say yes or no.”

KIRO host Gee Scott was shocked by Sayles’ answer.

“Wow,” Gee said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

SPD asks public’s help in identifying third Bite of Seattle shooting suspect

Authorities previously asked the public for help identifying information that could lead to a third suspect’s arrest in the shooting that killed three and injured four at Seattle Center last month.

The Seattle Police Department reported that it believed three gunmen were involved: 19-year-old Junior Semo, who was killed at the scene; a 15-year-old who was charged with first-degree assault; and another gunman on the loose.

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Director of Communications Casey McNerthney clarified via a news release that the teen was not being charged with murder because police investigators have not yet referred the case as a murder investigation, which remains ongoing.

“If they refer information for additional charges, prosecutors will review that information immediately,” McNerthney stated days after the shooting.

Teen arrest at scene charged with assault, not murder

McNerthney told KIRO Newsradio that although investigators are working to determine the extent of the teen’s crimes, they currently have sufficient evidence for assault.

“You want to make sure that you can prove what you bring before the court,” he said. “So right now Seattle Police investigators are working on trying to determine what exactly happened, and I would imagine that includes what bullets from which guns. And that investigation could go on for several more days or weeks.”

Juarez lays out who was missing from SPD leadership the night of the shooting

During Tuesday’s meeting, Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez laid out just how thin SPD’s leadership was the night of the shooting, noting that Barnes wasn’t the only one absent.

“Chief Barnes was not there, as we know,” she said. “He was in Texas. Chief Deputy Underwood was not there. He was on vacation. Interim Chief Andre Sales, you were not there. You were on vacation, and nothing wrong with that. I just want to make sure I understand. My understanding is that Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis was present. He’s not here today. And my understanding, I just learned, is that Captain Ward, you were actually on site on July 26, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am, I responded from home,” Ward replied.

Juarez also noted SPD Detective Brian Pritchard was on site. Ward confirmed Pritchard was called out as part of the public relations unit.

“OK, and he is not here today,” Juarez said.

Gee found it interesting that key players weren’t there to answer questions, especially Pritchard.

“Brian Pritchard, he’s PIO. He’s information,” Gee said. “He is the liaison between communication that happens with SPD and/or the media.”

Wilson requests Office of Inspector General to conduct review

On Tuesday, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson requested the Office of Inspector General conduct a review of the flow of public information following the shooting.

It took around five hours for the media to be updated after the shooting. The review will identify what went wrong and come up with recommendations for future incidents.

The review is anticipated to be completed by mid-December.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.