Two North Seattle shootings, about 200 shell casings in under two days. What the Council has done about Aurora

Two shootings less than two days apart left about 200 shell casings in North Seattle.

Thursday night, Oct. 22: Police went to a parking lot in the 10000 block of Aurora Avenue North around 11 p.m. after reports of multiple shots fired, KOMO News reported. Officers found nearly 120 casings. Police said more than 100 came from handguns and rifles. The shooters had left, and no victims were found. Gunfire damaged windows and doors at several nearby businesses.

Saturday morning, Oct. 24: Officers went near North 107th Street and Stone Avenue North around 8:15 a.m. and found more than 80 casings from several guns, including rifles and handguns, KOMO reported. One person was grazed by a bullet. Homes and cars were hit. Witnesses saw a black sedan leave toward Aurora. Police found Real Time Crime Center camera footage of a sedan with what looked like heavy bullet damage but did not find the car. Nobody had been arrested as of KOMO's report.

SPD's Gun Violence Reduction Unit is investigating both shootings.

What our records add

Both scenes are in District 5. We checked both locations against the city's council district boundaries. Both fall in District 5, held by Debora Juarez until voters fill the seat on Nov. 3.

Gun violence strategy. The Council adopted Resolution 32217 on Sept. 15 by a 7-0 vote, with Dionne Foster and Alexis Mercedes Rinck abstaining. Sponsored by Maritza Rivera, it calls for a gun violence strategy that includes partnering with national experts. Juarez voted yes. Rivera's budget request to pay for that partnership is covered in Rivera asks for $418,000. Police and Human Services proposals come up Oct. 29.

North Aurora planning money mostly unspent. Juarez filed OPCD-001 for Tuesday's budget meeting. It would add $250,000 a year in 2027 and 2028, plus a two-year planner position, for North Aurora planning, per the planning packet. Central Staff notes that the mayor's budget did not renew the $500,000 the Council provided for 2026. Of that money, the planning office had spent less than $20,000. It had contracted for $260,000 and expected to contract about $150,000 more by year's end.

Cameras. The Council authorized a police CCTV pilot that includes Aurora Avenue North in CB 120844. It passed 7-1 on Oct. 8, 2024, with Tammy Morales opposed and Joy Hollingsworth not recorded. Kettle, Rivera, Saka and Strauss, all still on the Council, voted yes. This year the Council passed CB 121179, sponsored by Rinck, 8-0 on March 31. It sets conditions for a mandatory 60-day pause in collecting data from police CCTV and license plate readers. In August, KIRO 7 reported that Mayor Katie Wilson had ordered cameras turned off pending a privacy and security audit. Public Safety Chair Robert Kettle has pushed to turn them back on. The reports we found don't say which cameras are running now. KOMO's report does say police used Real Time Crime Center footage in Saturday's case.

Earlier Aurora legislation. In 2024 the Council created Stay Out of Area of Prostitution zones in CB 120836, which passed 8-1 on Sept. 17, 2024.

What the District 5 candidates say. In interviews summarized by PubliCola, Julie Kang said she supports surveillance cameras, more police and SOAP orders on Aurora. Nilu Jenks said she opposes surveillance on Aurora and favors violence interruption programs and street design changes. Our race profile is District 5 votes Nov. 3.

What's next

• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Juarez's North Aurora proposal is on the Select Budget Committee agenda (planning item).
• Thursday, Oct. 29: Police, Human Services and CARE proposals at the committee.
• Nov. 3: District 5 voters choose who holds the seat.

SPD asks anyone with information on either shooting to contact its tip line, KOMO reported.