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New York City has recorded one of its safest starts to a year in modern history, with murders, shootings, and shooting victims falling to record-low levels during the first six months of 2026, according to newly released NYPD data.
The department said there were 122 murders citywide from January 1 through June 30, down from 162 during the same period in 2025. That represents a 24.7% decline and marks the lowest first-half murder total in the city’s recorded history. The previous record was 136, set in 2017.
Shooting incidents also reached a historic low. The NYPD reported 322 shooting incidents in the first half of 2026, beating the previous first-half record of 337, which was set in 2018 and matched in 2025. The number of shooting victims fell to 381, also the lowest first-half total on record.
Overall major crime across the city dropped 5.8%, with 55,157 major crimes reported compared with 58,581 during the same period last year. The decline included reductions in patrol areas, public housing, and the transit system, according to the NYPD.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited the improvement to what the department described as “precision policing,” including targeted deployments, gun seizures, gang takedowns, and officers being placed in areas where crime data shows they are most needed. The NYPD said detectives have carried out 61 gang-related takedowns so far this year and seized more than 2,530 guns.
The Bronx saw the largest boroughwide improvement, with major crime down 12% compared with the first half of 2025. The borough reported 13,434 major crimes, down from 15,208 last year. NYPD officials said the decline came after new policing changes in the Bronx, including a two-patrol-borough structure designed to make crime-fighting efforts more focused.
Several major crime categories also declined. Robbery fell nearly 12%, burglary dropped 15.8%, grand larceny declined 4.2%, and auto theft was down 9.7% citywide. Retail theft also continued to fall, dropping 16.3% compared with the same period last year.
Public housing also recorded major safety gains. The NYPD said public housing developments saw their lowest first-half numbers on record for murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies. Major crime in public housing fell 9%, from 2,905 incidents in 2025 to 2,659 in 2026.
Transit crime showed a smaller but still positive trend. Major crime in the subway system was down 1% year to date, continuing progress after 2025 was described by the department as the safest year in the subway system since 2009, excluding the pandemic years.
However, not every category improved. Reported rape incidents increased 5.8%, rising from 1,008 to 1,066. The NYPD said the increase was driven in part by reports of crimes that occurred in previous years and by cases that fall under New York State’s expanded legal definition of rape.
Confirmed hate crimes also rose 7.7%, increasing from 299 to 322 incidents. Anti-Jewish hate crimes made up more than half of confirmed hate crimes in the first half of the year, according to NYPD data.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said the numbers show that the city’s public-safety approach is working, while officials also emphasized that crime statistics remain preliminary and may be revised after further review.
The latest figures give New York City a strong public-safety milestone halfway through 2026, especially as the city manages major events, large crowds, and a busy summer season. While officials celebrated the historic drops in murder and gun violence, the rise in reported rape cases and hate crimes shows that serious challenges remain.
