Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s staff cut short a KOMO News interview this week after reporter Chris Daniels pressed her on whether a recent shooting near her public event would prompt a rethink of the city’s paused expansion of surveillance cameras.
Wilson was asked about a recent shooting incident outside the Yesler Community Center, where Wilson had just finished speaking to announce an expansion of Seattle’s preschool program. Gunfire erupted nearby as families and children gathered for currently unidentified reasons.
No one was injured as a result of the incident, while City Councilmember Maritza Rivera and the Seattle Public Schools superintendent were among those forced to shelter inside during a brief lockdown. Mayor Wilson was quickly rushed away after the first shots rang out, though police have since confirmed that the shooting was not targeted at the mayor or any other city leaders.
On Friday, Wilson spoke publicly about the shooting for the first time during an interview with KOMO senior reporter Chris Daniels. “I’m doing great. I’ve got a great team supporting me. I’ll just say we don’t have any indication that the shooting was targeted or anything like that. I think it’s a reminder of how much work we have to do as a city on gun violence. But I’m doing fine,” the far-left mayor, who was elected after winning a tightly-contested primary last year.
Daniels then followed up on community concerns about rising gun violence and the potential role of surveillance. “Last question… People are concerned there has been rising gun violence and should be more surveillance cameras,” Daniels asked. “Does this change your perspective at all?”
As Wilson appeared poised to respond, a staffer in a red jacket immediately intervened, stepping in to block further questioning. The off-camera staffer could be heard saying to keep the interview “on topic,” at which point Wilson awkwardly mumbled something similar. “We’re just trying to keep it in the scope and respect the event itself,” the mayor added.
Another staffer then intervened after the mayor began to move away. “We just need to keep it within the constraints of the event itself,” the second staffer interjected.
A dismayed Daniels pushed back after the mayor abruptly ended the interview. “It looks worse when you jump in like that,” he said, at which point the staffer doubled down with more non-answers.
Staffers for Seattle Socialist Mayor Katie Wilson abruptly end an interview with KOMO News Senior Reporter Chris Daniels when she can’t answer basic questions
Wilson has been criticized for dodging the press & being unable to answer basic questions since she came into office pic.twitter.com/eJnFtg6CLy
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) May 1, 2026
The exchange comes against the backdrop of Wilson’s earlier decision in March 2026 to pause the expansion of police CCTV cameras and automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), citing privacy concerns and fears of misuse against vulnerable populations, including immigrants. The previous administration had launched a pilot program in high-crime areas, with plans to extend coverage to neighborhoods like the Stadium District, Central District, and Capitol Hill.
Wilson halted most expansion pending a full data and privacy audit but allowed limited activation in the Stadium District for the upcoming World Cup if “credible threats” arise. She has emphasized that existing cameras remain operational in key areas covering about 1% of the city where roughly 20% of crime occurs.
