He also told KOMO News the mayor never told him why she asked him to resign and never raised any performance concerns.
Questions about Seattle’s response to a deadly mass shooting — and the sudden departure of the city’s former police chief — are intensifying after Shon Barnes said the mayor never explained why she wanted him to resign.
Barnes, Seattle’s former police chief, broke his silence in an exclusive interview with KOMO News senior reporter Chris Daniels following last month’s mass shooting at Seattle Center.
Barnes told KOMO News that the mayor never explained why she wanted him out, and the interview has raised additional questions about what happened the night of the shooting and why Barnes was pushed out.
Barnes acknowledged that a five-hour delay in releasing public information after the mass shooting was a failure but said he did not order the delay and does not know who did. He also told KOMO News that the mayor never told him why she asked him to resign and never raised any performance concerns.
Seattle City Council members also said they have not been given a clear explanation. The council has not received a specific written explanation for why the mayor wanted Barnes’ resignation, according to Councilmember Bob Kettle.
City Council Public Safety Chair Bob Kettle recently demanded that explanation in a letter to the mayor, insisting the city charter requires it in writing. In his letter to Mayor Katie Wilson, dated Aug. 21, 2026, Kettle wrote, “... you have not complied with the requirement for a written statement that clearly and transparently explains the factual basis for your decisions.”
KOMO News reached out to the mayor’s office Monday and is awaiting a response. KOMO News asked why she demanded Barnes’ resignation and who directed the five-hour delay in releasing public information about the shooting.
Former Seattle interim police chief and former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr told KOMO News earlier this month that the delay was significant.
"That was a big communication failure," Rahr said.
"Everybody knows you need to do a briefing right away to reassure the public you've got this; it wasn't someone randomly shooting into the crowd," Rahr said.
The mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival killed three and injured four, including a toddler. So far, only one person, a 15-year-old, has been arrested and charged.
Dave Reichert, former King County sheriff and former U.S. congressman, on Monday called the concerns a leadership issue and said he believes the Seattle Police Department has systems in place that were not followed.
"I think the real damage here is public trust," Rahr said.
Kettle told KOMO News that the questions raised by Barnes’ interview underscore why the council’s Sept. 22 public safety hearing is important. The council is expected to review both the police and fire after-action reports on the incident before the hearing, and Kettle said those findings will be part of the September public safety hearing on the mass shooting.
Separately, at the mayor’s request, the city’s Office of Inspector General will review the city’s response the night of the deadly shooting, a report expected in December.
