Looking Down the Fall Line » Gunfighting in the neighborhood

Gunfighting in the neighborhood

We where sitting back, watching an archived Simpsons episode last night when I heard what sounded like gunfire down the street. While we live in a relatively nice neighborhood, we’re only a couple of blocks away from the lovely Aurora Ave (hwy 99) which is well known for it’s seedy and tumultuous past. I wasn’t completely sure that the sounds I heard where gunfire as there are many other sounds that can be mistaken for it. The almost immediate response of police, fire, and ambulance sirens from what seemed like all directions was a bad sign though.
From the Seattle Times:

One man was killed and a police officer wounded in an exchange of gunfire in North Seattle on Wednesday night.

The shootout — between the man and two Anti-Crime Team (ACT) officers — began about 9:45 p.m. on Aurora Avenue North near North 90th Street, said Seattle police Sgt. Deanna Nollette.

Yeah, that’s 3 blocks from my house..

The King5 story has a quote from a witness stating that they heard at least 10 shots, which is exactly what I heard. It apparently all came to a head right on the street corner where I used to catch the bus downtown.

I’m aware that there is violence all around us in the city on any given night, but it really strikes you in a different way when it’s close enough to hear it from your living room.

Technorati Tags: gun violence, urban jungle