Record‑Low Homicides Mark 2025 Amid Ongoing Shootings Seattle recorded a 36 % drop in homicides and an 18 % decline in overall crime compared with 2024, totaling the fewest killings since before the pandemic, with 21 fewer victims than the prior year [1]. Within 48 hours, two teenagers were fatally shot in Rainier Beach and a young man was killed in Pioneer Square, showing that violent incidents persist despite the downward trend [1]. Chief Shon Barnes framed the reductions as the “first lap of a marathon,” emphasizing that continued effort is required to sustain safety gains [1].

School District Shifts Start Times to Support Grieving Students On Monday, Seattle Public Schools delayed start times for South Shore PreK‑8 (10:55 a.m.), Rainier Beach High, Alan T. Sugiyama High, and the Interagency Academy (≈12:30 p.m.) to provide wellness and counseling services after the Jan. 30 shooting [2]. Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, who began his term Sunday, coordinated increased police patrols in the Rainier Beach corridor and promised integrated community efforts to extend safety beyond school walls [2][3]. The district also cancelled weekend activities at the affected schools and offered individual and group mental‑health sessions for students [5].

New Superintendent Introduces Single‑Point Entry Security Plan Shuldiner unveiled a security upgrade featuring controlled single‑point entry, additional fencing, and new surveillance cameras to limit unauthorized access near schools and bus stops [3]. He addressed a significant budget shortfall caused by enrollment dropping from over 52,000 to about 49,000 students, opting for departmental merges and grant pursuits rather than layoffs [3]. The superintendent pledged transparent communication, promising notices to families, school visits, and public updates on lighting, crossing guards, and other safety measures [3].

Chief Barnes Calls for Return of School Resource Officers Barnes urged the reinstatement of high‑school resource officers, noting that no Seattle high school has had one for over five years and arguing their presence is essential for preventing gun violence [1]. He acknowledged community discomfort with officers but maintained that the officers’ deterrent effect outweighs concerns [1]. The chief also highlighted the Real‑Time Crime Center’s monitoring of more than 60 citywide cameras as a “game changer” for case solving and policing effectiveness [1].

Response Times Improved Yet Remain Insufficient, Police Seek Suspect Police response times accelerated in 2025, but Barnes said the gains are still inadequate and announced plans to station neighborhood resource officers downtown and near the 12th‑and‑Jackson intersection [1]. Officers continue to search for the suspect who fled the Rainier Beach scene, urging tips via the department’s 206‑233‑5000 line [4][5]. The department treats the incident as a targeted double homicide and stresses that it does not reflect the broader character of the neighborhood [5].