Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has relieved Police Chief Shon Barnes of his duties just days after a viral incident in which he nearly came to blows with a reporter.
Five sources familiar with the matter told local outlet Fox 13 Seattle that Barnes was asked to resign during a meeting with Mayor Katie Wilson on Wednesday night. Wilson’s office has not yet issued a formal comment on the matter, though Barnes reportedly texted colleagues to provide updates on his status.
Barnes was appointed to lead the Seattle Police Department after serving as chief in Madison, Wisconsin. He took on the role in early 2025 following the departure of previous leadership and was retained by Wilson — who ousted previous mayor Bruce Harrell after running a primary campaign to his left — when she assumed office earlier this year.
The reported leadership change came days after a mass shooting on the evening of July 26, outside the Seattle Center Armory during the Bite of Seattle festival. The shooting left three people dead and another four injured.
Authorities indicated the shooting appeared to involve a targeted exchange of gunfire that was possibly gang-related, with evidence suggesting at least one additional person involved. Police recovered multiple firearms, including a ghost gun, at the scene. All surviving injured individuals, including a 2-year-old, were later released from medical care.
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DEI Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes appeared to want to fight a journalist after he was asked about not being in the state often for work. It was learned that Barnes was in Dallas, Texas when the mass sh—ting happened.
The press conference was delayed for over five hours after… pic.twitter.com/WliS4CuKEe
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) July 27, 2026
Barnes was in Dallas attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives annual conference at the time of the shooting. Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis conducted the department’s first public briefing several hours after the incident, while Barnes returned to Seattle and appeared with Wilson at a news conference the following day.
“I wish that I had a crystal ball, and we could schedule gun violence, but we can’t,” the chief said when asked about his absence. The delayed public update and the chief’s absence from the city drew criticism from residents and local officials.
After the Monday news conference, Barnes engaged in an exchange with South Seattle Emerald reporter Connor Nash. The reporter asked whether it was accurate that Barnes planned to be out of town until mid-August, to which Barnes replied, “That is not accurate.”
When asked when he planned to return, Barnes approached and said, “Let me tell you something. I don’t have to tell you where I go. … I have been here working as hard as I can for this city from the day that I got here. Do you got that?” Nash then referenced reports that Barnes was not often in town.
Barnes then advanced towards the reporter once again, saying, “Those reports are wrong. Do you understand? Do you understand, so when we work —” before a staff member intervened and escorted him from the area.
On Wednesday, scheduled one-on-one media interviews with Barnes were canceled. That evening, Barnes attended a silent vigil at Seattle Center for the shooting victims beginning around 6:30 p.m. local time. He left before it concluded and proceeded to the meeting with Wilson.
Black community leaders, including representatives from the Seattle NAACP, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, and the MLK Coalition, planned a gathering at Seattle City Hall the following morning in response to the news.
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