Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that the NYPD delivered the fewest murders in recorded history for the first four months of the year and the month of April. During the four-month stretch, there were 76 murders, shattering the previous record of 86 set in 2018. April also saw the fewest murders in recorded city history with 19, beating the previous record of 21 set in 2014 and 2017.
Shooting incidents and shooting victims are down double digits compared to last April with an 18.6% and 19.3% decline, respectively.
Major crime continued to fall in April, down 9.5% citywide. These historic reductions extended to the city’s public housing developments, where the NYPD delivered the safest start to any year in recorded history with the fewest murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies.
“Once again, the crime reductions across the five boroughs are a direct result of our precision policing strategy: focusing on illegal guns, putting officers where they’re needed most, and taking down violent gangs,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “These results are made possible by the women and men of the NYPD carrying out that work with focus and discipline. That approach is producing real, measurable crime reductions across the city, and it will continue to guide our work in the months ahead.”
Citywide, overall major crime fell 9.5% (9,157 vs. 10,114) with 957 fewer reported crimes compared to last April. Year to date, major crime is down in all five boroughs, transit, and housing.
Compared to last April, shooting incidents declined 18.6% (57 vs. 70) and shooting victims dropped 19.3% (67 vs. 83). The NYPD’s ongoing work to target and take down the most dangerous gangs also played a role in driving down shootings and removing guns from the streets. So far this year, NYPD detectives have carried out ten gang-related takedowns, and the department has seized 1,600 guns.
Murders fell by a staggering 40.6% (19 vs. 32) citywide, marking the fewest murders for any April on record. Staten Island has had zero murders so far in 2026.