NYPD reports historic drop in murders, shootings as City enters Summer

By Mutiu Olawuyi

The New York City Police Department says the city recorded the fewest murders, shooting incidents, and shooting victims in recorded history for the first five months of the year, marking what officials described as a major public safety milestone as New York enters the summer season.

According to figures released by the NYPD, murders were down 20.9% year to date, falling from 129 to 102, the lowest number ever recorded for the first five months of any year. Shooting incidents also dropped 5.7%, from 262 to 247, while shooting victims declined 7.1%, from 311 to 289.

The department also reported a record low for shootings in May, with 51 shooting incidents and 58 shooting victims, both lower than the previous May records set in 2025.

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said the numbers show the impact of targeted policing strategies.

“Across our city, the NYPD is delivering on its mission to keep New Yorkers safe,” Tisch said. “With record lows in murders, shooting incidents, and shooting victims, as well as the safest start to the year in public housing, and continued reductions in subway crime, New Yorkers across every corner of our city are benefitting from a police department that is focused and strategic.”

Citywide major crime declined 10.6% in May, with 1,147 fewer reported major crimes compared to the same month last year. Year to date, major crime is down 6.2%, from 47,929 to 44,955, with reductions reported in all five boroughs.

The NYPD said its strategy includes data-driven deployments, gun seizures, gang-related takedowns, and placing officers in areas and at times where violence is most likely to occur.

“These accomplishments are the result of a precision policing approach that follows the data, goes after guns, takes down gangs, and puts our officers where and when they are needed most,” Tisch said.

The department said detectives have carried out 20 gang-related takedowns so far this year and seized nearly 2,000 guns. The announcement also follows what the NYPD described as the safest Memorial Day weekend in city history, with only three shooting incidents and four shooting victims from May 22 to May 25.

The Bronx stood out in the report as the borough with the largest year-to-date decline in major crime, down 11%. The borough also saw the city’s largest reduction in auto thefts, down 27.1% for the year. In May, the Bronx recorded a 15.4% drop in robbery, a 13.7% drop in burglary, and a 13.1% drop in grand larceny.

The NYPD also highlighted the recent division of the Bronx into two patrol commands: Patrol Borough Bronx North and Patrol Borough Bronx South. Since the split, the newly created Bronx South command recorded a 14.5% reduction in year-to-date index crimes, the largest decrease among the new command areas.

Public housing also recorded what the department called the safest start to the year in recorded history. Murders in public housing were down 46.7%, shooting incidents fell 24.5%, shooting victims dropped 30%, robberies declined 24.3%, and burglaries were down 18.8%. Overall major crime in public housing fell 8.7% year to date.

Transit crime also continued to decline. Major crime in the subway system was down 6.5% in May and 1.1% year to date. The department reported zero shooting incidents and zero shooting victims in the subway system in May.

Despite the overall declines, the report also identified areas that remain serious public safety concerns. Felony assaults increased slightly by 0.4% in May. The NYPD said longer-term increases in felony assault have been driven by domestic incidents, assaults on police officers, and assaults on other government workers.

To address domestic violence, Commissioner Tisch created a Domestic Violence Unit within the Detective Bureau, staffed by 450 domestic violence investigators. The department said domestic violence arrests are up 2.9% so far this year.

The NYPD also reported a 10.4% decrease in reported rape incidents in May compared to last year, though year-to-date reports increased 6.7%. The department noted that New York’s expanded legal definition of rape under the Rape is Rape Act contributed to the increase in reported cases. It also emphasized that sexual assault remains underreported and encouraged survivors to come forward.

Hate crimes remain another area of concern. In May 2026, the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force confirmed 68 incidents as hate crimes, up 74.4% from 39 confirmed incidents in May 2025. Reported hate crime incidents totaled 98 for the month. Anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 60.3% of confirmed hate crimes in May, according to the NYPD.

From a community-centered public safety perspective, the latest numbers offer both reassurance and responsibility. Fewer murders and shootings mean fewer grieving families, fewer traumatized neighborhoods, and more space for children, workers, seniors, and business owners to feel secure.

But the rise in hate crimes, continuing domestic violence concerns, and felony assaults show that safety cannot be measured by crime reductions alone.

New York’s next challenge is to turn these gains into lasting trust. That requires effective policing, fair enforcement, stronger violence prevention, survivor support, youth intervention, community partnerships, and transparent accountability.

As summer approaches and the city prepares for major events, the NYPD says it will continue its focused deployment strategy to sustain the decline in violence and protect communities across the five boroughs.