VIDEO: Auburn residents rally against juvenile violence at Public Safety Meeting

In response to recent incidents of juvenile violence, the Church of the Nazarene in Auburn hosted a Public Safety meeting on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

The event, organized by community member Jacob Blixt, featured Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus and Police Chief Mark Caillier, alongside concerned citizens who shared their experiences and participated in a Q&A session.

The impetus for the meeting was an ambush shooting by juveniles on Sunday, July 28, 2024 (read The Auburn Examiner’s coverage here), where Blixt’s friend narrowly escaped injury. Officers responding to the 2900 block of M Street SE discovered nearly 100 shell casings. Police believe several suspects used illegally modified pistols converted to fully automatic weapons. Four of the five victims, including three juveniles and one adult, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Blixt emphasized the importance of community unity and collaboration in addressing these challenges.

“Our strength lies in our unity. By coming together, we are demonstrating our commitment to making our community a safer place for everyone, especially our youth,” he said.

The meeting began with an opening prayer led by Pastor John, who called for unity and peace within the community. Mayor Backus and Chief Caillier shared insights into the ongoing efforts to combat juvenile violence and reiterated the need for community involvement.

“We are here to listen, to learn, and to take action. Together, we can and we will make a difference,” Mayor Backus stated, underscoring the significance of collaborative efforts between local government, law enforcement, and residents.

Chief Caillier provided an overview of the current state of juvenile crime in Auburn, noting that while the overall number of juveniles involved in crimes is relatively low, a small group is responsible for many violent incidents. He highlighted the importance of regional cooperation with neighboring cities like Kent and Federal Way to effectively address the issue.

“A lot of these incidents are all connected, probably, to only about 15 to 20 juveniles. And it’s happening throughout our region with these individuals,” Caillier said.

Caillier also reminded attendees how they can help.

“We need engaged community members. If you see something happening in this community, we need you to call,” he said.

Several community members shared personal stories of how juvenile violence has affected their lives, calling for more support and proactive measures from local authorities. Suggestions included better engagement from law enforcement, increased community outreach, and stricter consequences for juvenile offenders.

In a show of community support, Blixt announced that his company, Simply Installations, would donate $20,000 to help Auburn residents repair damages caused by juvenile crimes and cover medical expenses.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to hold future gatherings to continue addressing public safety concerns and ensure that the voices of Auburn residents are heard.

Below is video of the meeting as filmed by Max Messer and edited by Scott Schaefer (running time 1-hour, 58-minutes):

Surveillance video taken on July 28 shows four masked suspects approaching a group of five people exiting a Metro bus. The suspects brandished handguns and began shooting at the group. One of the victims, who was also armed, returned fire as they fled”