In an audacious move to safeguard their community from escalating violence, residents of North Seattle have resorted to constructing makeshift barricades on their neighborhood streets. This initiative comes after enduring weeks of unsettling gunfire in close proximity to their homes.
Situated near North 98th Street and Linden Avenue North, these residents have taken matters into their own hands, spending the Memorial Day weekend assembling roadblocks composed of dirt, gravel, logs, and concrete. These barriers now partially obstruct access to several residential streets adjacent to Aurora Avenue, a thoroughfare they believe is facilitating the spread of gun violence linked to prostitution-related activities.
The residents supporting these barriers express a sense of urgency and desperation to curtail the shootings. “It’s either this, or bullets in my neighbor’s houses,” stated Peter Orr, echoing the community’s anxiety and determination to act.
However, this grassroots approach has sparked debate. Critics voice concerns that these barricades might impede emergency services, potentially delaying firefighters, medics, and other first responders during critical situations.
“It’s either this, or bullets in my neighbor’s houses,” resident Peter Orr said.
Over the past month, residents documented at least eight shootings within roughly 10 blocks of their homes using incident numbers, surveillance footage and shell casings, according to neighbors who have tracked incident numbers, surveillance footage and shell casings.
One recent shooting sent bullets into the side of a nearby home, stopping near a six-week-old baby’s bassinet, according to the family living there.
“We celebrate when there’s not a shooting,” resident Kate, who asked not to use her last name, said.
Kate and Orr said neighbors built the barricades over the weekend after repeated overnight gunfire left residents frustrated and fearful. They did not name the residents who constructed them when asked. They said they do not know whether whoever built the barricades obtained city permits.
Seattle requires permits to block or place structures in public streets. Under city rules, unauthorized street obstructions can lead to fines, removal orders and the city billing residents to remove them.
The neighborhood effort turned into a conflict Sunday when residents started confronting each other near one of the barricades.
River Alexander, a nearby resident, worried street obstructions could interfere with emergency response times.
“I think that the risk of emergency services not being able to get through here, and the impediment that could cause to people’s actual lives, is greater than the good they think they’re doing from putting up this,” Alexander said.
Kate and Orr argued enough streets remain open for emergency vehicles and said they believe the greater danger is continued gun violence near homes and children.
“There’s a real gray area there,” Orr said. “But nobody wants to wake up to one of their neighbors being dead.”
Seattle police previously told KING 5 they understand residents’ concerns and continue patrolling the Aurora corridor “as time and call load allows.”
Publicly available Seattle police data shows Greenwood recorded fewer shots-fired calls this year compared to the same point in 2025. However, a separate police analysis shared with residents found 13 shootings reported along the broader Aurora corridor this year.
Residents supporting the barricades said they hope city leaders will ultimately address the violence that led to them being built in the first place.