Residents said the constant gunfire forced them to block the streets themselves. Their neighbors warned that the barriers would slow down firefighters and paramedics.
SEATTLE — After weeks of gunfire near their homes, some North Seattle residents are taking matters into their own hands — building and placing makeshift barricades on nearby streets they believe are vulnerable to gun violence on Aurora Avenue.
Residents near North 98th Street and Linden Avenue North spent part of the Memorial Day weekend piling dirt, gravel, logs and concrete blocks into barricades that now partially block access to three residential streets near Aurora Avenue.
Supporters of the wall say they are eager to stop the shootings, which they believe are linked to prostitution-related activity along the Aurora corridor. Opponents argued the roadblocks could hinder firefighters, paramedics and other emergency responders trying to reach homes in the area.
“It was either this or my neighbor had bullets in his house,” said resident Peter Orr.
Residents have used incident numbers, surveillance video and shell casings to record at least eight shootings within about 10 blocks of their homes in the past month, according to neighbors who tracked them.
The latest shooting sent a bullet into the side of a nearby house, resting near the cradle of a six-week-old baby. According to family members who live there.
“When there’s no shooting, we celebrate,” said Kate, a resident who asked that her last name not be used.
Neighbors erected barricades over the weekend as residents were frustrated and frightened by the constant nighttime gunfire, Kate and Orr said. When asked about the residents who built the homes, they did not give names. They said they didn’t know if the people building the barricades had city permits.
Seattle requires a permit to block or place structures on public streets. According to city regulations, unauthorized street barriers may result in fines, removal orders, and the city charging residents to remove the barriers.
Neighbors’ efforts turned into a conflict on Sunday, when residents began confronting each other near a roadblock.
River Alexander, a nearby resident, worries the street obstructions could impact emergency response times.
“I think the risk of emergency services not being able to get here and the impediment it might cause to people’s actual lives is greater than the benefits they think they’re going to get by doing this,” Alexander said.
Kate and Orr believe there are still enough streets for emergency vehicles and said they believe the greater danger is ongoing gun violence near homes and children.
“There’s definitely a gray area there,” Orr said. “But no one wants to wake up and find their neighbor has passed away.”
Seattle police previously told KING 5 they understand residents’ concerns and will continue to patrol the Aurora corridor “as schedules and call volumes allow.”
Public data from Seattle police show Greenwood has recorded fewer shootings this year compared to the same period in 2025. However, another analysis shared by police with residents found that there have been 13 shootings in the broader Aurora corridor this year.
Residents who support the barricades say they hope city leaders will finally address the violence that led to their construction.
