Residents living near Seattle’s North Aurora corridor have blocked access to several neighborhood streets after repeated shootings in recent days, including one incident where bullets entered a home and passed near a sleeping infant.
The action came Saturday after another overnight shooting near Aurora Avenue N. and N. 98th Street left dozens of shell casings scattered across the roadway.
Frustrated neighbors in the Greenwood area say they no longer feel safe and believe city leaders have not responded quickly enough to ongoing violence along the corridor.
Incident
According to residents and local reports, roughly 40 shell casings were found Saturday morning near Aurora Avenue N. and N. 98th Street following another exchange of gunfire near the Burgermaster restaurant.
The latest shooting came only one week after bullets struck a nearby home in the Greenwood neighborhood.
In that earlier incident, surveillance footage reportedly captured gunfire erupting near N. 98th Street and Linden Avenue N. Some of the bullets traveled through the wall of a house and passed close to a window where a six-week-old baby was sleeping.
The child was not injured, but residents said the event intensified fears throughout the neighborhood.
Neighbors reported additional gunfire incidents during the nights that followed.
Response
By Saturday morning, residents took action themselves.
Neighbors brought in large steel planters and used them to block access to residential side streets near Aurora Avenue N., including portions of N. 97th, N. 98th, and N. 102nd Streets.
Residents said the closures were intended to reduce vehicle traffic connected to illegal activity and ongoing violence in the area.
One resident, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, said neighbors felt they could no longer wait for official solutions.
He described growing frustration over repeated shootings and concerns involving prostitution, drug activity, and public safety issues along the Aurora Avenue corridor.
Residents also said representatives from the mayor’s office and the Seattle Department of Transportation visited the scene after the barriers were installed.
According to neighbors, the street closures remained in place despite objections.
Concerns
Community members say they have spent years contacting city departments, law enforcement agencies, and elected officials about crime and safety concerns near Aurora Avenue.
A letter attached to the planters outlined those frustrations.
The statement said homes in the area had repeatedly been struck by gunfire and described emotional stress experienced by residents, including military veterans coping with trauma related to recurring violence.
Neighbors also referenced previous discussions with the Seattle Department of Transportation regarding partial street closures after earlier shootings drew national attention last year.
Residents claim some proposed traffic restrictions were never fully implemented.
Many in the neighborhood believe violence has gradually spread deeper into residential areas.
Context
Aurora Avenue has long been the focus of public safety concerns involving gun violence, sex trafficking, illegal street activity, and open-air crime.
Residents say the problems have become increasingly visible during both daytime and nighttime hours.
Community groups and block watch organizers have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement and long-term safety strategies.
Greenwood resident Peter Orr, who helps organize neighborhood watch efforts, said families in the area are increasingly worried about raising children amid repeated gunfire.
Residents describe hearing shots multiple nights each week and say uncertainty has become part of daily life.
City Response
Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez issued a public statement earlier in the week addressing recent shootings and broader concerns about public safety.
In her statement, Juarez said residents should not have to fear gun violence inside their homes or neighborhoods.
She also pointed to staffing shortages within the Seattle Police Department. According to the councilmember, the number of deployable officers has declined significantly in recent years.
City officials have not yet publicly commented in detail on the neighborhood street blockades.
Local media outlets, including KIRO Newsradio, reported they contacted the mayor’s office, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and city council representatives seeking responses regarding the planters and neighborhood actions.
As of the latest reports, the barriers remained in place.
Outlook
Residents say the immediate goal is preventing additional violence while waiting for longer-term solutions from city leaders.
Some neighbors acknowledged there is no permanent plan yet regarding the blocked streets, but many believe urgent action was necessary after repeated shootings in residential areas.
The situation reflects broader challenges facing several Seattle neighborhoods where residents, businesses, and officials continue debating how best to address crime, public safety, and community stability.
For now, neighbors say their focus remains on protecting families and preventing further harm.
FAQs
Why did Seattle residents block streets?
Neighbors cited repeated shootings and safety fears.
Where did the shootings happen?
Near Aurora Avenue and N. 98th Street.
Were any children injured?
No injuries to the infant were reported.
What did residents use to block roads?
Large industrial steel planters.
Is the city responding to concerns?
Officials have acknowledged ongoing safety issues.
