Aurora Avenue drive-by suspect enters plea in court
Feb 13, 2025, 7:05 AM | Updated: 10:09 am
A Seattle Police Department vehicle can be seen on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Police Department)
(Photo courtesy of the Seattle Police Department)
The man arrested and charged in connection with a drive-by shooting along Aurora Avenue in Seattle last month has entered a ‘not guilty’ plea today.
Prosecutors say Ladaiquiri Jones Jr., 23, was driving a stolen SUV and harassing sex workers when another car arrived, leading to a shootout. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on January 25 and was captured on nearby surveillance cameras.
According to prosecutors, Jones and another suspect, who remains at large, were harassing sex workers when the other car pulled up and its driver fired one shot at Jones. Police say someone in Jones’ stolen SUV then popped up through the sunroof and opened fire. Officers counted 20 shots, many of which hit nearby businesses. No one was injured.
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Jones was later arrested at an apartment in Auburn. Police say gun violence, including incidents like this, has been an ongoing problem along Aurora Avenue, with a “pimp war” contributing to the violence.
Luke Duecy is a reporter, editor and anchor at KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Luke on X, or email him here.
