AUBURN, Wash. — On Thursday morning, community members were able to bring their safety concerns to Auburn's mayor and police chief after violence rattled a neighborhood earlier this week.
Police say the search continues for a group of shooters who carried out a planned attack on Sunday around 6:40 a.m. near 29th Street Southeast and M Street Southeast.
"This time, it happened here; next time, where is it going to happen?” one attendee said.
Fears and frustrations brought the community together for a meeting about the shooting.
"This latest shooting that we have had down here was targeted to a specific person,” said Auburn Police Chief Mark Caillier.
Police say on Sunday, four people using illegally modified guns ambushed a group of teens stepping off a bus. Four were shot and wounded. The victims are an 18-year-old, two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old. Investigators say the shooters took off, leaving nearly 100 shell casings behind.
"I just knew it was gangs. It had to be because that is what is running rampant around here,” said Dinah, an Auburn resident.
It motivated Dinah to be at the Thursday meeting to tell city leaders about the impact of the ongoing violence that made her 17-year-old daughter a victim two years ago.
"When I drove to Harborview, there's my daughter, she had been beaten up and shot,” said Dinah. "Those people have never been found that shot my daughter."
She says it was another Auburn case involving young people with guns.
"I am very concerned over juvenile crime and juvenile violence,” said Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus.
"A lot of these incidents are all connected to probably about 15 to 20 juveniles,” said Caillier.
When asked about recent violence, Caillier said, "They do have gang ties, a majority of them. Why they come here, I don't know."
Police say the activity has been happening all around King County.
"I've lost count of how many shootings have caused lockdowns in this school district, in this town,” said one resident.
After Sunday’s shooting, some community members are calling for accountability.
"These kids got to know that there are consequences for carrying guns around, that there are consequences for shooting people,” said Dinah.
During the meeting, concerns were raised about police resources. Caillier said they are working to hire additional police officers and are turning to technology. They have plans to add more cameras throughout the city that will be able to help locate vehicles associated with crimes.