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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson Apologizes for Communication Delays Following Gang-Related Mass Shooting

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson issued a formal apology on Thursday for the delayed public communication following a gang-related mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival. The shooting, which occurred at 6 p.m. on Sunday, left three people dead, including a 19-year-old gunman, and injured at least four others. Mayor Wilson acknowledged that information regarding the suspect's status and the security of the Seattle Center campus was not released quickly enough. While the city initially reported two suspects were in custody, it was later corrected to one. The first press conference was held at 11 p.m., five hours after the incident began. The delay sparked criticism of the administration, with some blaming Governor Bob Ferguson for the slow response. However, the governor's office clarified that they were not responsible for the communication timeline. Text messages revealed that Governor Ferguson was in contact with Mayor Wilson throughout the evening, but the city's police department and mayor's office were responsible for the communication flow. Mayor Wilson stated she is implementing new protocols to ensure faster updates in future tragedies.

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