Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson speaks to the media at the scene after a fatal shooting during the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center in Seattle on Sunday. Photo by Genna Martin/EPA
July 30 (UPI) -- Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has fired Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes, local news outlets are reporting on Thursday.
MyNorthwest, KING 5 and Fox 13 Seattle, citing unnamed sources, report that Barnes has been dismissed days after the shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival.
The Seattle mayor's office and police department have not released any public statements about Barnes' dismissal as of Thursday morning.
Barnes, 51, was reportedly not in Seattle when the shooting took place. During a press conference on Monday, reporter Connor Nash of The South Seattle Emerald asked Barnes about reports that he is often out of town, leading to a heated confrontation.
