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NYPD Says City Hit Record Low Shootings and Murders in First Half of 2026

City leaders say the drop reflects targeted policing and cross-agency tactics, with rising juvenile shooters, hate-crime reports and rape filings identified as new priorities for attention.

Overview

  • The NYPD's July 2 report shows 322 shooting incidents, 381 shooting victims and 122 murders from Jan. 1 to June 30, the lowest first-half totals on record for each measure.
  • Overall major crime fell 5.8% year over year to 55,157 reported incidents, driven by declines in robbery, burglary, grand larceny and auto theft while felony assault stayed flat.
  • Police reported that the share of shooting suspects under 18 rose from 19% last year to 22% this year, and that juveniles account for a growing portion of transit robberies and arrests.
  • Rape reports increased 5.8% to 1,066 cases partly because of delayed reports and New York's expanded legal definition of rape, and confirmed hate crimes rose 7.7% with anti-Jewish incidents making up more than half.
  • The Bronx led borough declines with a 12% drop in major crime and public housing posted historic lows in several categories, and officials say continued use of targeted deployments and violence-reduction zones will guide next steps.