City Reports Historic Lows in Violent Crime Through July

New York City experienced its lowest levels of gun violence and homicides in recorded history during the first seven months of 2026, according to data released by the NYPD.

Between January and July, the city documented 381 shooting incidents and 149 murders. July specifically saw 59 shootings and 21 murders, representing the lowest monthly totals ever tracked by the department. Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch attributed these figures to data-driven policing strategies implemented during a summer season marked by high-profile events, including the FIFA World Cup and various citywide celebrations.

Across all five boroughs, major crime categories saw a 12.7% decrease in July compared to the same period last year. The Bronx reported the most significant improvement, with a 19% reduction in major crime. Declines were also noted in categories such as burglary, robbery, auto theft, and grand larceny. Public housing developments similarly reached record lows for violent crime and robbery during the year-to-date period.

Despite the downward trend in major offenses, the department reported increases in other areas. Transit crime rose 1% year-to-date, with a 10.9% spike recorded in July alone. Additionally, confirmed hate crimes increased by 9.4% over the first seven months of the year. The NYPD noted that anti-Jewish incidents accounted for more than half of all reported hate crimes during this timeframe.