Gun violence in communities participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative declined during the first two months of the year after reaching its lowest level on record in 2024. That’s according to Governor Kathy Hochul, who provided an update on Wednesday. She added shooting incidents with injury decreased 18 percent in January and February, compared to those two months in 2024, and 18 fewer individuals were harmed by gunfire.
“Reducing gun violence and implementing programs to make our streets safer is critical to ensuring that all New Yorkers feel safe and are protected from harm,” Governor Hochul said. “The initiatives we’ve implemented to eliminate gun crimes are working, and we will continue to invest in law enforcement and community-based programs until each and every New Yorker is free from gun violence.”
According to the Governor’s Office, the 18 percent decline reflects 61 shooting incidents with injury reported in January and February 2025, compared to 74 during those two months last year, and the number of shooting victims decreased by 21 percent (68 vs. 86). The 28 police departments participating in GIVE report roughly 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms and 85 percent of violent crime reported outside New York City.
The Rochester and Buffalo police departments each reported 10 fewer individuals injured by gun violence, the most significant decreases reported. Shooting incidents with injury, shooting victims and shooting homicide data for each of the 28 GIVE agencies are available on the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website. In addition to the collective decrease in gun violence in GIVE communities, the New York City Police Department reported a 27 percent (111 vs. 151) decrease in shooting incidents through March 16, 2025.
Preliminary index crime reported by police departments and sheriffs’ offices outside of New York City showed an 8 percent decrease from January through September 2024 vs. 2023, the most current data available. There are seven index crime categories that are used to gauge overall crime trends: four violent (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and three property (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft). Violent crime declined by three percent and property, eight percent. In the five boroughs, data reported by the NYPD showed a 2 percent reduction in 2024 compared to 2023.
To date, State Police have seized 318 guns in 2025. In 2024 and 2023 respectively, State Police seized 1,706 and 1,463 guns.
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