Woke police chief declares shooters will be called ‘trigger pullers’ after three killed by gun violence in just 24 hours

A woke Seattle police chief has been mocked over his bizarre choice of words for people accused of gun violence.

Andre Sayles has drawn fierce scrutiny for appearing to give a politically correct makeover to the word ‘gunman,’ referring to shooting suspects in his city as ‘trigger pullers’ during a briefing on September 7. 

The backlash came as Seattle was grappling with a succession of shootings over Labor Day weekend in which three people were killed, putting renewed focus on violent crime and the police department’s ability to identify and apprehend those responsible.

‘We call them trigger-pullers in our community,’ Sayles said during the briefing, as he outlined the department’s response to the shootings.

Sayles said officers were increasing patrols and working with businesses and specialist teams focused on reducing gun violence. 

He added that police were also coordinating with the King County Prosecutor’s Office as investigators gathered evidence and attempted to identify suspects.

The chief said the victims’ families deserved justice and stressed that officers were working to develop cases that could ultimately be presented to prosecutors.

But the doublespeak euphemism quickly became a talking point of its own.

The wording quickly drew attention online, with critics on X questioning why police would use the less familiar expression when ‘shooter’ or ‘gunman’ would appear to describe the suspects more directly.

One poster chimed in with some additional mock suggestions for renamed criminal acts.

“Additionally, they will now refer to cannibals as ‘alternative-protein enthusiasts,’ looters as ‘unlicensed wealth redistributors,’ arsonists as ‘freelance urban-renewal specialists,’ and murderers as ‘life-expectancy adjusters.’”

Another critic pointed out that whatever they are called, victims are still being shot.

The backlash came after a particularly bloody weekend for the city.

The first shooting occurred early Sunday after a fight reportedly broke out following a street takeover near Denny Way and Clay Street. A 20-year-old man was killed and two other people were wounded.

Around an hour later, a woman was found inside a vehicle in the Belltown area with gunshot wounds. She later died.

A third shooting before midnight left a 17-year-old dead and a 21-year-old seriously injured.

Police said the three incidents did not appear to be connected, and investigators were also examining whether the shootings were linked to any wider pattern of violence.

At the time Sayles spoke publicly, no arrests had been announced in connection with the three shootings.

The chief said detectives were reviewing witness accounts and surveillance footage, including hundreds of hours of video in at least one investigation.

Sayles also acknowledged questions about whether police resources had been stretched by the shootings and a series of street takeovers across the city.

He said the department would assess its staffing and response as necessary, while continuing to work with community organizations and businesses in areas affected by violence.

The phrase ‘trigger-puller,’ meanwhile, is not entirely new to American law enforcement. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray used the expression in a 2022 speech when discussing repeat offenders involved in gun violence. Wray served under both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. 

‘This is an informal term not dictated by any policy within the department policy,’ a Seattle Police spokesperson said in a statement to Seattle Red.

That fact, however, did little to prevent the Seattle terminology from becoming an online punchline.

Critics argued that whatever terminology police use, the more important question is whether the department can identify violent offenders, make arrests and prevent further bloodshed.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Seattle Police Department for comment.