Barlows is either dead or he's alive. Evidence that he's dead? Answer: A lot, but of course that could have been faked. But if he's alive, what are the chances that Q-Team doesn't know he's alive? Answer: Zero. Given that Q-Team new of there would be an attempt on Barlows' life in advance of his death, and posted about it before his supposed dead, there are only two likely possibilities. 1. Either Q-Team was responsible for taking down Barlows or stood by and let it happen. Or, 2. Q-Team intervened, protected Barlows by faking his death and whisked him away to WP.
If the later, we should be expecting Barlows to show up as a witness in a high profile trial sometime soon or perhaps he already has behind the curtain at a secret military tribunal. Are there any other more probable possibilities?