BREAKING: Seattle police chief ‘relieved of his duties’ after mayor demands his resignation over mass shooting response

Multiple sources told The Post Millennial Wednesday evening that Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has asked Police Chief Shon Barnes to resign, ending his tenure just days after the deadly Bite of Seattle mass shooting intensified scrutiny of his leadership, his frequent travel, and his absence from the city during the tragedy. However, he refused to resign, leading to his firing, according to MyNothWest.

Barnes was spotted by Post Millennial staff leaving a vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Seattle Center before the event began and went to City Hall, where he was asked to resign.

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Barnes began texting people Wednesday night about his dismissal. Wilson’s office has not replied to requests for comment.

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The move comes after a tumultuous week for Barnes, who faced mounting criticism over both the police response to the shooting and his own whereabouts when it unfolded.

Three people were killed, and several others were wounded Sunday evening after suspects opened fire during the closing hours of the Bite of Seattle festival. Barnes was in Dallas attending a National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives conference when the shooting occurred.

His absence quickly became a flashpoint for controversy after it took roughly five hours for Seattle police to hold their first formal press briefing while the public was unaware a suspect was at large. Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis, who had been designated acting chief during Barnes' trip, led that briefing while investigators searched for suspects and residents questioned why no emergency text alert had been issued.

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At a contentious press conference Monday, Barnes had to be dragged away by staff from a journalist asking about the chief’s trips to his home in Chicago. During the presser, he announced that there might be a second suspect loose. Still, no description was given of either suspect.

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At a press conference Tuesday, Barnes defended his decision to attend the conference and rejected criticism that he frequently leaves the city. "I don't travel as often as I would like to," Barnes said. "I think any reports that I'm gone every weekend are grossly misstated."

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On Wednesday, Barnes had agreed to a one-on-one interview with KOMO News to discuss the shooting, the department's communications, and questions surrounding his travel schedule. About 30 minutes before the interview was scheduled to begin, however, it was canceled.

Instead, the department released portions of Barnes' calendar covering late March through the end of July.

According to KOMO's review of those records, Barnes was away from Seattle or out of the office nearly a dozen times during those four months. The calendar reflected seven work-related conferences in cities including Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Dallas, along with four personal trips to Chicago, where Barnes' wife and children continue to live.

By KOMO's calculation, Barnes spent close to 50 days away from his Seattle office during that period. The station noted the records do not necessarily show whether Barnes was performing police business remotely and that some of the dates included weekends and travel days. The calendar also showed that an acting chief was designated during each absence.

KOMO identified apparent discrepancies involving some of Barnes' Chicago travel dates and sought clarification from the department, but those questions remained unanswered Wednesday afternoon.

According to the outlet, Barnes personally pays for his trips to Chicago, while conference travel is funded by the Seattle Police Department, although conference organizers sometimes reimburse part of those expenses.

During Tuesday's press conference, he attempted to defuse questions about his living arrangements with a joke about Seattle's affordability, a remark that drew criticism given his $374,000 compensation package and the fact that he maintains an apartment in Seattle while keeping his family home in Chicago.

The investigation into Sunday's shooting also continued to evolve Wednesday. King County prosecutors charged a 15-year-old suspect with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, alleging he fired multiple shots into the crowd. Court records further revealed the juvenile had previously been arrested in a gun-related case that was later sealed under Washington law.

Charging documents also indicate the suspect's privately made handgun, commonly referred to as a "ghost gun," was not responsible for striking all of the victims, suggesting investigators believe additional firearms may have been used during the attack.