NYPD: Major crime in city down again, shootings at an all-time low
Mayor Eric Adams speaks about first quarter 2025 New York City crime statistics with NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at NYPD headquarters in Manhattan on Thursday. Credit: Ed Quinn
Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a news conference Thursday trumpeted another decline in serious crimes, including the lowest number of shootings ever, while Adams — fresh from announcing his reelection campaign as an independent — extolled his administration’s crime fighting efforts.
Overall, major crime was down 11% in the first three months of 2025 compared with the same period a year ago, led by a drop of nearly 35% in homicides, a decline of nearly 23% in robberies as well as dip of 13.7% percent in grand larceny, the latest NYPD statistics revealed.
NYPD data shows the 11% major crime drop is also 11.5% under two years ago and down 74% from 32 years ago
Tisch pointed to the record low of shootings as a major development.
"Shootings are down in every borough and were down 23% compared to last year,” Tisch reported as Adams stood nearby.
Tisch attributed the decrease in shootings to Adams' leadership during which time the NYPD had taken 21,000 guns off the street, 1,000 in 2025 so far.
"It is not just the best first quarter for shootings, it is the best ever, this is huge,” Tisch added.
In the hours before the joint news conference with Tisch, Adams announced he would be running for reelection in November as an independent, although he maintained he is still a Democrat. His indictment on corruption charges was dismissed Wednesday by a federal judge.
Adams basked in the continuing crime decline, saying: "New York remains the safest big city in America, bar none.”
Adams also acknowledged the work done by Chief of Department John Chell and Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry.
But some troubling trends continue involving youth, officials noted.
Michael LiPetri, chief of crime control strategies for the NYPD, said while shootings overall were down, there had been more than a 130% increase in juvenile shooting victims over 2018, with an increase of 112% since then in shooting suspects under the age of 18.
Gun arrests also saw a large spike among young offenders, said LiPetri, with there being a 94% increase in arrests of suspects under the age of 18. This is stoking future violence he said.
"You get arrested for a gun under the age of 18, within two years of that gun arrest, 25% of that population will be involved in a shooting. Prior to 2018, it was less than seven [percent],” said LiPetri.
The NYPD said subway crime decreased to the second-lowest level in 27 years, with major crime dropping 18.1% during the first quarter, and no murders in the transit system for the first time in seven years.
Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a news conference Thursday trumpeted another decline in serious crimes, including the lowest number of shootings ever, while Adams — fresh from announcing his reelection campaign as an independent — extolled his administration’s crime fighting efforts.
Overall, major crime was down 11% in the first three months of 2025 compared with the same period a year ago, led by a drop of nearly 35% in homicides, a decline of nearly 23% in robberies as well as dip of 13.7% percent in grand larceny, the latest NYPD statistics revealed.
NYPD data shows the 11% major crime drop is also 11.5% under two years ago and down 74% from 32 years ago
Tisch pointed to the record low of shootings as a major development.
"Shootings are down in every borough and were down 23% compared to last year,” Tisch reported as Adams stood nearby.
Tisch attributed the decrease in shootings to Adams' leadership during which time the NYPD had taken 21,000 guns off the street, 1,000 in 2025 so far.
"It is not just the best first quarter for shootings, it is the best ever, this is huge,” Tisch added.
In the hours before the joint news conference with Tisch, Adams announced he would be running for reelection in November as an independent, although he maintained he is still a Democrat. His indictment on corruption charges was dismissed Wednesday by a federal judge.
Adams basked in the continuing crime decline, saying: "New York remains the safest big city in America, bar none.”
Adams also acknowledged the work done by Chief of Department John Chell and Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry.
But some troubling trends continue involving youth, officials noted.
Michael LiPetri, chief of crime control strategies for the NYPD, said while shootings overall were down, there had been more than a 130% increase in juvenile shooting victims over 2018, with an increase of 112% since then in shooting suspects under the age of 18.
Gun arrests also saw a large spike among young offenders, said LiPetri, with there being a 94% increase in arrests of suspects under the age of 18. This is stoking future violence he said.
"You get arrested for a gun under the age of 18, within two years of that gun arrest, 25% of that population will be involved in a shooting. Prior to 2018, it was less than seven [percent],” said LiPetri.
The NYPD said subway crime decreased to the second-lowest level in 27 years, with major crime dropping 18.1% during the first quarter, and no murders in the transit system for the first time in seven years.
Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.
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