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Seattle police chief faces criticism for calling gun violence suspects ‘trigger pullers’
ReSeattle police chief faces criticism for calling gun violence suspects ‘trigger pullers’
Seattle’s interim police chief used the term ‘trigger pullers’ to describe known gun violence suspects during a news conference after three fatal shootings over Labor Day weekend, drawing criticism from local commentators.
Seattle’s interim police chief is facing scrutiny after referring to known gun violence suspects as “trigger pullers” during a news conference about a deadly weekend of shootings. Interim Chief Andre Sayles used the phrase while discussing the department’s response to three separate shootings that left three people dead and three others injured over a 24-hour period.
“We’re looking at ways to where we can identify individuals that are known, we call trigger pullers, in our community,” Sayles said during a Sept. 7 briefing. He said the department was increasing patrols, coordinating with business owners, and deploying its community response group and gun violence reduction unit. “Identifying them, making sure that we’re putting cases on those individuals working with King County Prosecutor’s Office, to bring these individuals to justice, because the families that lost loved ones, throughout the year and years past, deserve justice.”
The term drew pushback from local commentators who said it softened the description of violent suspects. “So in Seattle we aren’t calling them ‘shooters’ anymore? Now they are ‘trigger pullers’?” local radio host Ari Hoffman posted on social media following Sayles’ remarks.
The phrase is not new to law enforcement. In 2022, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray used the term during remarks to the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies. “You all know what’s driving the violent crime in your states,” Wray said. “Whether it’s a community where a disproportionate amount of gun violence takes place or rival gangs wreaking havoc in a particular region or a handful of well-known trigger pullers who keep finding their way back to the streets, no matter how many times they’re arrested, at the FBI, we want to be your integral partner in the fight against violent crime.”
The shootings occurred over Labor Day weekend. The first happened early Sunday near Denny Way and Clay Street, where a fight following a street takeover escalated into gunfire, killing a 20-year-old man and injuring two others. About an hour later, a gunman fired multiple shots into a vehicle near Third Avenue and Blanchard Street, fatally wounding a 23-year-old woman. Before midnight, a third altercation near Elliott Avenue and Bell Street left a 17-year-old dead and a 21-year-old seriously injured.
Sayles said investigators did not believe the three shootings were connected and that none appeared to be linked to the deadly July shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival. No arrests had been made in the three shootings when Sayles spoke with reporters. He said investigators were working with witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage, including about 450 hours of video in one case.
Sayles also acknowledged questions about whether police resources had been strained by the shootings and a series of street takeovers over the weekend. “That’s something I have to look at. I haven’t really dove into what the staffing numbers looked like,” Sayles said. “And if that was the case, then we will do what we need to do as a department to make sure that they are not overwhelmed.”
Sayles said the department’s intelligence unit was working to identify where street takeovers were being organized and that officers would coordinate with regional, local and federal partners. “We have officers in these dedicated areas,” he said. “They’re a block or two away, and it’s one of those incidents where we respond to violence on a daily basis. It’s not like we can be there and stop it, but our goal is to be there and stop it.”
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson offered condolences to the victims’ families during a public appearance. “This weekend, we’ve seen three people die, which is incredibly tragic, and my heart goes out to the victims and their families,” Wilson said.
Seattle police told the station the department was seeking tips, photos and videos from the shooting scenes that could help lead to arrests. Investigators continue to pursue leads in all three cases.
