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NYPD reports fewest murders in recorded history

Major crimes, including robbery, felony assault, burglary and grand larceny, are down 9.5% in all five boroughs.

Morgan Scott

May 5, 2026, 10:45 PM

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New York City might be the safest it's ever been, with fewer people being killed than before, according to the NYPD.

Major crimes, including robbery, felony assault, burglary and grand larceny, are down 9.5% in all five boroughs.

The NYPD says it recorded the fewest murders in recorded history in the first four months of the year and in April. Officials say 76 people were killed during the first four months of this year, breaking a record low of 86 in 2018.

Murders fell by a staggering 40.6% (19 vs. 32) citywide, marking the fewest murders for any April on record. 

The NYPD is delivering historic crime reductions in public housing across the city. Year to date, overall crime in public housing is down 8.7%, according to officials.

As for the work it took to get here, officials say it's a direct result of precision policing – focusing on illegal guns, placing officers in the right hotspots, and taking down violent gangs.

As the summer approaches, people say they want the historic lows to continue so their children can be safe outside and so all New Yorkers can freely enjoy the summer as they see fit.

This week, the NYPD will begin its Summer Violence Reduction Plan, the department’s largest summer deployment in recorded history. 

Up to 3,800 officers will be on nightly foot patrols across 40 precincts, public housing, and the subway system.

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