New York City recorded the fewest shooting incidents and murders in recorded history during the first 10 months of 2026, according to NYPD data released Monday. Though there was an uptick in transit crime.
Year to date, there were 536 shooting incidents, beating the previous record low of 598 set in 2025. And there were 230 murders, surpassing the previous record low of 244 set in 2017, according to the NYPD.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited the department’s “data-driven strategy” for the decline in violent crime.
“In the first ten months of this year, New York City experienced historic lows in shooting incidents, shooting victims, and murders, with major crime declining in all five boroughs,” Tisch said in a statement. “Those extraordinary results are only possible because the members of the NYPD continue to execute on our data-driven strategy with skill and precision: identifying the drivers of violence, removing guns from our streets, and going after the gangs.”
For the first 10 months of the year, major crime was down 6.5%. The NYPD said it was the largest year-to-date reduction in major crime in 17 years.
In October alone, major crime fell 8.6% compared to the same month last year, according to NYPD data.
The Bronx saw the largest year-to-date decline among the five boroughs, with major crime down 11.3%.
While shootings reached historic lows over the first 10 months, they ticked up slightly in October compared to last year’s record-setting numbers. There were 47 shooting incidents, up 4.4% from 45 in October 2025, and 55 shooting victims, up 5.8% from 52.
Murders, however, declined 5% in October, with 19 reported compared to 20 during the same month last year. Year to date, murders were down 15.7%.
Transit crime, however, continued to rise. Major crime across the subway system increased 2.2% year to date and 12.7% in October. The NYPD said felony assaults and nonviolent grand larcenies were the biggest drivers.
Despite the uptick, the department said 2026 is the second-safest year in the transit system in the last 15 years, excluding the pandemic years.
Among other major crime categories, burglary declined 23.1% in October and 14.2% year to date. Robbery fell 15.5% during the month and 12.3% for the year, while auto theft was down 0.2% in October and 11.2% year to date.
Grand larceny declined 11.3% in October and 6.1% year to date. Retail theft also continued to fall, dropping 10.9% during the month and 12.2% for the first 10 months of the year.
Rape reports increased 1.8% year to date, despite an 11.2% decline in October. The NYPD attributed part of that increase to changes under the state’s Rape is Rape Act, which expanded the legal definition of rape.
Felony assaults increased 0.9% year to date and 3.1% in October. The NYPD said assaults on police officers and other public service workers contributed to the increase, rising 7.6% so far this year.
The department also reported record lows in public housing, with 78 shooting incidents, 87 shooting victims and 18 murders during the first 10 months of the year. Robberies in public housing fell to 584, the fewest recorded for that period, according to the NYPD.
Major crime in public housing declined 17.4% in October and 7.4% year to date.
The NYPD also reported an increase in confirmed hate crimes. Year to date, confirmed hate crimes rose 15.2%, from 460 to 530 incidents. Anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for more than half of the confirmed cases.
In October, there were 45 confirmed hate crimes and 52 incidents reported as potential hate crimes. Anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 57.8% of confirmed hate crimes that month.
Source: ny1.com
