Baltimore Records Historic 20% Drop in Homicides

City's Anti-Violence Efforts Credited for First Sub-300 Homicide Count in Nearly a Decade

Baltimore recorded less than 300 homicides last year for the first time in nearly a decade, marking a 20% annual decrease.
City leaders attribute the decrease to ongoing anti-violence efforts, treating gun violence as a public health crisis, and implementing comprehensive violence strategies.
The city's police department has been under a federal consent decree, leading to a series of court-ordered police reform measures aimed at curbing unconstitutional policing practices.
Nonfatal shootings also decreased by about 7% last year, according to Baltimore police data.
Despite the positive trend, city officials and community leaders acknowledge the need to address the root causes of violence, particularly in Baltimore's poorest and most overlooked neighborhoods.