Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes was removed from his position Wednesday night by Mayor Katie Wilson following days of criticism over the city’s response to a deadly mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival and questions surrounding his whereabouts during the attack.
Multiple outlets reported that Barnes was given the option to resign but declined, leading to his dismissal.
The shooting occurred Sunday evening during the final hours of the Bite of Seattle festival at Seattle Center, leaving three people dead and several others wounded.
Police later arrested a 15-year-old suspect, while investigators continued looking into whether additional individuals were involved.
Authorities said the attack may have involved multiple firearms and that the investigation remained ongoing.
Barnes was not in Seattle when the shooting happened.
He was attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives conference in Dallas, Texas, at the time of the attack.
The chief’s absence became a central point of criticism after it took several hours for police to hold a formal briefing and provide additional information about the investigation.
Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis led the initial briefing Sunday night while serving as acting chief during Barnes’ trip.
Officials later faced criticism over delays in releasing details, including information about suspects and whether anyone remained at large.
City leaders claimed the delay was intended to allow investigators to verify information before making public statements, according to MyNorthwest.
Barnes faced additional scrutiny during a Monday news conference when a reporter questioned him about his travel schedule and whether he was frequently away from the city.
A tense exchange followed before officials intervened and separated Barnes from the reporter.
The chief later rejected claims that he was regularly absent from Seattle, saying reports that he was gone every weekend were inaccurate.
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) later released portions of Barnes’ calendar covering late March through July.
According to KOMO News’ review, the schedule showed nearly a dozen instances when Barnes was away from Seattle, including seven work-related conferences and four personal trips to Chicago, where his wife and children live.
The outlet noted the records did not indicate whether Barnes performed police duties remotely during those periods.
Barnes had been scheduled to participate in one-on-one media interviews Wednesday to discuss the shooting response, department communications, and questions about his travel schedule.
Those interviews were canceled shortly before they were set to begin.
Later that evening, sources said Barnes attended a silent vigil for victims before leaving for a meeting with Wilson, where he was informed of his dismissal, according to Fox 13.
The chief’s removal came less than two years after he was selected to lead the SPD.
Former Mayor Bruce Harrell appointed Barnes after his previous role as chief of the Madison, Wisconsin, Police Department, where he served from 2021 to 2025.
There, he faced criticism over his handling of the deadly shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.
Wilson had kept Barnes in the position after taking office, saying she wanted to work with him on improving the department.
During his time in Seattle, Barnes promoted an initiative called “Seattle-Centric Policing,” which focused on using data to identify crime trends and increase collaboration between officers, residents, and local organizations.
He also introduced a neighborhood policing program that assigned officers to specific communities.
The investigation into the Bite of Seattle shooting continued as prosecutors charged the teenage suspect with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Court documents indicated investigators believe the suspect’s privately made firearm was not responsible for all victims’ injuries, raising questions about whether additional weapons were used, The Post Millennial reported.
Barnes’ firing now places the SPD under new leadership as officials continue addressing concerns about the department’s response to the deadly festival shooting and the ongoing investigation.
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