8 people died in gun-related shootings in the first 4 months of the year, statistics for 3 of LI's biggest police departments show

Long Island’s three largest police departments reported eight firearm-related homicides during the first four months of 2025, up from only one such shooting death during that same period in 2024, according to data released Tuesday by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Six of the eight Long Island homicides were investigated by Suffolk County police, although department officials said half were victims of murder-suicides. 

In total, 28 police departments outside of the NYPD — including Nassau, Suffolk and Hempstead Village — participating in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative reported data on shootings from January through April.

The statewide data showed a 14% drop in shooting incidents and a 27% decrease in victims of gun violence during the four-month period compared to 2024, but a 4% increase in individuals killed by firearms.

"My administration has been laser focused on eliminating gun violence and reducing the number of gun-related injuries and fatalities across the state," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "Our efforts are working, and I am committed to continuing our record level support for gun violence prevention initiatives in our most impacted communities to ensure all New Yorkers are safe."

The 28 departments involved in GIVE collectively report about 90% of violent crimes involving firearms outside of New York City, according to DCJS officials, which provides participating jurisdictions with funding for personnel, overtime, technology and equipment.

The Nassau, Suffolk and Hempstead Village police departments each reported year-to-year drops in gun violence in 2024, the data shows, and each showed improvements compared to their respective five-year averages.

But during the first four months of 2025, the three departments together failed to match the declines in gun violence seen elsewhere across the state.

For example, the Suffolk Police Department reported that shooting incidents involving an injury ticked up from six to seven during the first four months of 2025; the number of shooting victims stayed flat at seven and shooting related homicides increased from one to six. The data does not include individuals who die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Suffolk police chief Kevin Catalina said Tuesday the "slight uptick" in shootings comes amid "historic lows" overall in gun violence.

"If you went back to 2020 and 2021, you would see that in 2025 we're down significantly from where we were in those periods," Catalina said at an unrelated news conference in Yaphank. "We had a great year with shootings last year, and I anticipate that we're going to have a great year moving forward."

Gun violence was considerably lower in areas patrolled by the Nassau Police Department, which reported that shooting incidents involving injuries and the number of individuals shot each dropped from two to one while homicides crept up from zero to one, the data shows. The county is on pace to see declines in all three gun violence categories compared to 2024, the figures show.

Nassau police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Hempstead Village Police Department, meanwhile, reported that shooting incidents involving injuries stayed flat at three during the first four months of 2025; shooting victims dipped from four to three and gun-related homicides went from zero to one. Hempstead Village police officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Preliminary data from DCJS shows a 4% decline in major crimes statewide — categories include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft — in 2024, compared to one year prior.

Newsday’s Michael O'Keeffe and James Carbone contributed to this story.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.