The Seattle police chief is facing intense scrutiny for his absence during Sunday's mass shooting, which left three people dead and four others injured at the Bite of Seattle food festival.
According to reports, Chief Shon Barnes was in Dallas, Texas, attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives' annual conference at the time of the shooting, which occurred on Sunday evening.
Barnes has come under criticism for his frequent absences from the city, with some questioning how often he is actually in Seattle, where his family lives in Chicago.
During a press conference, Barnes expressed frustration with the criticism, saying, "I wish that I had a crystal ball and we could schedule gun violence, but we can't."
When asked about his time spent in Chicago, Barnes claimed that he does not travel as often as reported and that he loves the Seattle community, where he works hard to serve the city.
Seattle police believe that a conflict between small groups may have led to the shooting, with a teenager opening fire in the crowd, although details are still under investigation.
The incident has sparked a heated debate over Barnes' leadership and his commitment to the city, with many questioning his priorities as police chief.
