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- calendar_today October 29, 2026
NYPD Reports Significant Drop in Shootings and Murders
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced on Wednesday that it has confiscated 4,500 guns so far this year. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted this milestone as a major factor in the city’s recent decline in gun violence, including shooting incidents and murders citywide.
Display of Confiscated Weapons Underscores Progress
At Police Headquarters in Lower Manhattan, Commissioner Tisch showcased a selection of the confiscated firearms. She emphasized that removing these weapons from circulation has helped make New York City safer. “It's another powerful measure of the extraordinary work being done by our members to make NYC safer because as we've driven guns off our streets, we've also driven shooting and murders to historic lows,” Tisch stated.
Citywide Crime Statistics Show Positive Trends
According to the latest NYPD figures, murders across the city have dropped more than 17% compared to the previous year, falling from 272 by October 25 to 224 in the same period. Shootings involving victims were also down 13.8%, decreasing from 740 last year to 638 this year. Commissioner Tisch attributed these reductions to several factors, including ongoing police precision strategies and investigative operations that target areas most affected by gun violence.
Targeted Police Tactics and Major Operations
Tisch pointed to the department’s precision strategy that deploys officers in neighborhoods with the highest rates of gun violence. She also credited investigative efforts, highlighting a recent undercover operation where an officer purchased 99 guns across seven separate buys. This operation contributed to dismantling a significant drug trafficking organization, according to Tisch.
Impressive Declines in Historically Affected Neighborhoods
The commissioner noted that the most significant progress is being seen in communities historically weighed down by gun violence. In Brooklyn, shootings are down 63% in the 73rd Precinct covering Brownsville, and 47% in the 75th Precinct of East New York, based on figures from five years ago. In the Bronx, gun violence has dropped 69% in Morrisania’s 42nd Precinct and 61% in Highbridge’s 44th Precinct.
Ongoing Challenges in Violent Crime
Despite the promising data on shootings and murders, other violent crimes have experienced slight increases. Rapes reported through October 25 rose by 2.3% compared to the same period last year, while felony assaults increased by 0.7%.
Collaborative Efforts and Gun Buyback Initiatives
The NYPD cited partnerships with city and state district attorney offices as significant contributors to the recent firearm seizures. Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz mentioned the largest gun buyback event in the borough’s history, adding 176 more firearms to those taken off the streets—the largest for Queens and the second largest in New York City overall. Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that plans are underway for a gun buyback event in Brooklyn in December.
Community Involvement Encouraged
Community activist Jackie Rowe Adams, whose family was personally impacted by gun violence, urged parents and guardians to help reduce illegal firearm access among youth. “Our kids, 11 and 12 years old, are carrying guns. Check the book bags at home. Parents, get involved,” she said. Rowe Adams emphasized that effective crime reduction requires a partnership between the police and the community.
Source: ny1.com.
