SEATTLE — Neighbors in the Central District are fed up with the rise in gun violence. A meeting to address safety concerns happened on Thursday night and dozens of community members attended.
This week, in the neighborhood, police responded to reports of gunfire two nights in a row.
Seattle police said within an hour, there was an armed robbery outside Garfield High School and at least two people were shot in the city’s South Precinct..
Neighbors got their chance to ask the Seattle Police Department about the rise in gun violence and what’s being done to stop it.
“I’m going to say the obvious: we are struggling with gun violence and, more alarming, the age of people perpetrating this violence,” said Assistant Chief of Special Operations Tyrone Davis.
SPD said Garfield is one area they are focusing on, especially around the high school, by being more visible with its mobile precinct.
Officers addressed some of the things they are doing, including getting more than 1,200 guns off the streets, making significant arrests and working to focus on youth outreach.
A topic that Councilmember-Elect Joy Hollinsworth, who will take office in January, is passionate about.
“Our office is going to be focused on prevention and intervention piece. When I talked to a lot of the kids in the neighborhoods, they don’t have anywhere to go after school,” Hollingsworth said.
In the Central District, inside A 4 Apple Learning Center, staff are pushing for peace and calling for a stop to gun violence.
"It is trauma. I'm traumatized. I think about it all the time,” says Appollonia Washington, referring to what happened on Oct. 16 just after 2:30 p.m.
Gunfire outside of her center, which was filled with children that day, shattered the window and crushed the community’s spirits.
"We weren't physically injured, but mentally it is a lot,” said Washington. "When is this going to stop? Why?"
On the same street, the same questions were echoed this week. On Tuesday in the late afternoon, police responding to reports of gunfire found a flipped SUV near Spruce Street and 23rd Avenue. The night before, Central District neighbors near East Union Street and 21st Avenue reported shots fired with bullet holes in cars and homes.
"You can't control, when you're spraying bullets everywhere, what you're going to hit,” said Victoria Beach with the African American Community Advisory Council for Seattle Police.
Beach heard directly from the community.
"They're fearful and they want to talk, and they want to talk with the Seattle Police Department which I get it I mean, I'm nervous,” said Beach.
"I see that it's worse than usual, especially with our young people,” said Washington.
After the horrible day in October, Appollonia has not lost hope. That's why when she replaced the shattered glass at her business, she made sure to include a powerful message.
"Everyone's noticing that the dove is there, and I hope it brings awareness that we are for peace. We want to see peace in our community. And we are going to make sure that we support our community,” said Washington.