Reoccurring shootings, prostitution, and gang activity continue to plague Seattle’s Aurora Avenue, leaving residents feeling left behind by city leaders in the face of ongoing shootings.

The most recent incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday near the intersection of Aurora Avenue N and N. 101st Street, with gunfire also reported in the same area several hours earlier.

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No injuries were reported.

Melissa Resendiz, a concerned resident, described the experience of being awakened by the sound of gunshots outside her home. “We live on the first floor, and our bedroom is facing the outside, and we’re just concerned about shots being fired in this direction,” she shared.

Seeking assurances on what measures are being taken to ensure community safety, KOMO News reached out to Seattle police. Deputy Chief Eric Barden assured the public that efforts are underway to address the surge in gun violence.

“We are doing everything that we can to impact the gun violence up there… We are deploying our community response group of officers to have an impact. We’re utilizing our traffic units to have presence and enforcement in the area during the day and we are utilizing emphasis patrols from our depleted patrol staffing to focus in that area.” – Deputy Chief Eric Barden

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However, a resident who preferred to remain anonymous shed light on the link between the violence and rampant sex trafficking in the area. “Honestly, it’s gang members trying to be pimps,” she asserted.

Barden corroborated this claim, emphasizing the connection between the shootings and illicit activities such as sex trafficking and drug trade.

“The sex trafficking, along with drug sales and drug use, creates an environment where there’s competition between providers, and they are prone to violence… We’ve got gang involvement with some of the gun violence. We certainly have sex trafficking and pimps involved with some of that.” – Deputy Chief Eric Barden

Moreover, there have been instances where the perpetrators scatter before law enforcement arrives, making it difficult to ascertain the factors leading to the street violence.

In response, a team from the Seattle Department of Transportation installed concrete barriers to restrict access to alleyways near Aurora, a common area for illegal activities. Deputy Chief Barden expressed empathy for the residents, acknowledging the legitimate concerns about the safety of their families and homes. “Police officers feel worse than anybody about the out-of-control gun violence and crime that’s occurring there,” he added.

With 31 reports of shootings or shots fired along Aurora Avenue between N 85th St and N 125th St in the past 60 days, law enforcement is intensifying its efforts to prevent further violence and restore security to the community.

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