The state says progress continues to be made in bringing down gun violence. According to data released by the Governor’s Office, shooting incidents with injury declined 28 percent during the first five months of 2024 when compared to the same period last year, as reported by police departments participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative.
The 28 percent decline reflects 218 shooting incidents with injury from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2024, compared to 303 incidents from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2023. Data for each of the 28 police departments participating in the GIVE initiative is available online. That data also shows the number of individuals shot in those incidents and the number of individuals killed by gun violence for the same period.
In addition to the decreases in gun violence experienced in GIVE communities, the New York City Police Department reported declines in gun violence through June 9, 2024. When comparing the same timeframe in 2023, there were 41 fewer shooting victims and 39 fewer shooting incidents. New York State Police also seized 973 guns through May 2024, and the agency is likely on pace to exceed last year’s total of 1,463. The number of guns seized during the first five months of this year is more than those seized annually in 2018 (551), 2019 (528), and 2020 (517).
Index crimes in all seven categories – four violent (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and three property (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) – also declined outside of New York City during the first quarter of 2024 when compared to the first quarter of last year. Preliminary data reported to the state by police departments and sheriffs’ offices showed a 10 percent reduction in total index crimes, a 6 percent decrease in violent crime; and an 11 percent decline in property crimes. Notably, these data showed a 10 percent decrease in larcenies and a 20 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts. Reported felony crimes in New York City, meanwhile, decreased by 2 percent through June 9, 2024.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “We’ve brought gun violence down to historic lows – and we’re giving local law enforcement agencies more of the resources needed to keep tackling crime throughout every corner of our state.”
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