Blue-city police chief draws scrutiny after referring to known gun violence suspects as trigger pullers

Seattles interim police chief referred to known gun-violence suspects as "trigger pullers" during a Labor Day weekend news conference where he discussed three separate shootings and his departments response.

Three people were killed and three others were injured in the shootings over a 24-hour stretch, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

Interim Chief Andre Sayles said the Seattle Police Department was increasing patrols, coordinating with business owners, and deploying its community response group and gun violence reduction unit to curb the violence.

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"Were 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. "Identifying them, making sure that were putting cases on those individuals working with King County Prosecutors 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 arent 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 whats driving the violent crime in your states," Wray said. "Whether its 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 theyre arrested, at the FBI, we want to be your integral partner in the fight against violent crime."

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.

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The first shooting occurred 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, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

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.

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Before midnight, a third altercation near Elliott Avenue and Bell Street left a 17-year-old dead and a 21-year-old seriously injured. Investigators did not immediately identify a cl