Gun violence in Brooklyn saw a significant decrease as 2024 came to a close, announced borough District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, highlighting data from the NYPD. Homicide rates also dropped, while incidents of rape and felony assaults saw an uptick, as per the data.
## Decrease in Gun Violence
The data revealed that there were 287 shooting incidents, marking a 15% decrease from the previous year and the lowest total since records began. This improvement surpassed the 290 shootings documented in 2019, just before the pandemic hit. Additionally, the number of shooting victims decreased to 345, down 14% from the previous year. This was the lowest count since 2019 when 363 individuals were shot.
## Overall Crime Trends
Overall, homicide rates in the borough decreased by 6%, with 120 deaths reported. District Attorney Gonzalez expressed satisfaction at the continuous improvement in safety, stating, “Brooklyn continues to get safer year after year, and we’re now the safest we’ve ever been in terms of gun violence. Murders and other serious crimes also saw a decline in 2024, bringing us back to pre-pandemic levels.”
## Reasons for Decline
Gonzalez attributed these positive trends to the collaborative efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement, along with advancements in crime-fighting technology. However, while gun violence saw a decline, felony assaults in Brooklyn continued to rise, mirroring the citywide trend.
## Continued Challenges
Felony assaults have been on the rise in Brooklyn since 2019, now standing at 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels. South Brooklyn has seen a significant increase in assaults, while North Brooklyn reported a 15% rise in reported rapes. Overall crime in the borough decreased by approximately 5%, as per police data.
Despite the progress made, Gonzalez acknowledged that there is still much work to be done. He expressed optimism about building on these achievements in the upcoming year and beyond, emphasizing the importance of continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Brooklyn residents.
