Former Sheriff B.J. Barnes Calls on Democrat Shelly Headen to Answer Questions Raised by Her Now Deleted Statement on Two Police Incidents at Her Home

RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes is calling on House District 62 Democratic nominee Shelly Headen to provide additional answers following her now-deleted Facebook statement regarding 2024 incidents involving law enforcement at her home.

In her now-deleted statement, Headen acknowledges only one incident, but according to Guilford County Police Records, there were two incidents in which police were called to Headen's home, both involving her husband as the victim. Shelly Headen never mentioned why her husband was listed as the victim, and why the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office states in their reports that “personal weapons” were used, with Headen listed as the suspect. 

Former Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes offered the following statement:

“Unfortunately, Shelly Headen’s statement about the incidents where law enforcement were summoned to her home raises more questions than answers.

First, her now-deleted statement tries to provide context for one of the calls in which deputies responded to her home, but ignores the second call completely. Next, we still don’t know why her husband is listed as the potential victim—not Shelly herself, as her statement seems to try and have voters believe. Finally, we have indication that she may have used “personal weapons”, and she completely ignores that section of a report.

Headen claims to value transparency, but voters continue to be in the dark about both incidents where deputies showed up at her door.”

Headen’s now-deleted statement does not identify which of the two documented incidents she was describing, does not address why her husband is identified as the victim in the reports, and does not address the “personal weapons” notation contained in the records. Her statement says she intends to answer questions about the matter “honestly and respectfully”, but these are fundamental questions that the public deserves to know that she is conveniently withholding.