NYPD ANNOUNCES FEWEST SHOOTING INCIDENTS, SHOOTING VICTIMS, AND MURDERS IN RECORDED HISTORY FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR

March 2, 2026

Major Crime Declined 8% Citywide with Decreases Across Every Borough in February and 1,100 Fewer Reported Crimes Year-to-Date

Public Housing Sees Safest Start to Year in Recorded History with Fewest Shooting Incidents, Shooting Victims, Murders, and Robberies

Burglary Dropped Nearly 20% in February, Down Year-to-Date to the Lowest Level in Recorded History

Retail Theft Fell 24.7% in February Despite Traditionally Increasing During Winter Months

New York, New York – Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that the NYPD delivered the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, and murders in recorded history for the first two months of the year. For January and February combined, the city had 83 shooting incidents and 97 shooting victims, beating the previous all-time lows of 92 and 105, set in 2025 and 2019, respectively. So far this year, the city has recorded 32 murders, beating the previous all-time low of 38 set in 2018.

These historic reductions drove an overall 8% decline in major crime citywide, with decreases in every borough and 1,100 fewer crimes reported year-to-date. Of note, burglary dropped nearly 20% citywide in February to the lowest level in recorded history year-to-date, and retail theft fell 24.7%.

The NYPD also delivered the safest start to a year in our public housing [1.1]with the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, murders, and robberies for the first two months of the year. February alone also marked record lows across those categories.

The NYPD also delivered the safest start to any year in public housing developments across the city with the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, murders, and robberies for the first two months of the year.

“Once again, the NYPD is demonstrating how targeted, data-driven policing is reducing crime and keeping communities safe,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “In the first two months of this year, we have seen the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, murders, and burglaries in recorded history for January and February combined. The men and women of the NYPD brought major crime down in every borough and there were 1,100 fewer reported crimes than last year. From our public housing – which had historic lows in crime – to our streets and subways, we will always stay focused on keeping New Yorkers safe, and I thank every member of the NYPD for their continued work in getting us here.”

The NYPD continues to combat violent crime and shootings through its Winter Violence Reduction Plan, which deploys up to 1,800 uniformed officers to nightly foot posts across 64 zones in 33 precincts, public housing, and the subway system. Since its inception in January, major crime is down 23.1% and shootings are down 66.7% in the zones.

Citywide, overall major crime fell nearly 8% (7,596 vs. 8,250) for February and declined across every borough.

Murders plummeted by a staggering 33.3% (16 vs. 24) for February, marking the second fewest murders for any February on record.

Shooting incidents rose slightly in February by 2.4% (43 vs. 42) with only one more incident. Shooting victims increased by only seven more victims, or 16.3% (50 vs. 43). When combined with January's numbers, shooting incidents and shooting victims are still at the lowest levels in recorded history.

Burglary declined 19.8% (784 vs. 977). Year-to-date, burglary is down 22.3% (1,678 vs. 2,160) with 482 less burglaries, marking the fewest for any year-to-date in recorded history.

Grand larceny fell 6.8% (3,014 vs. 3,233).

Robbery decreased 6.4% (919 vs. 982).

Felony assault fell 6.1% (1,910 vs. 2,035).

Auto theft declined 5.8% (792 vs. 841).

In the month of February, the number of reported rapes increased by 1.9% (161 vs. 158) compared to February 2025. The rise in reported incidents since September 2024 is partly attributed to legislative changes which rightfully broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State to now include additional forms of sexual assault. The NYPD continues to encourage survivors of sexual assault to come forward and report these incidents.

Retail theft in the month of February fell 24.7% (3,285 vs. 4,365), despite typically rising during the winter months. The decline reflects the department’s focused approach: identifying the patterns driving these crimes, concentrating resources at high-propensity locations during peak hours, and shifting from pass-through enforcement to sustained investigation.

Crime in public housing declined 14.7% (371 vs. 435) in February and 12.1% (785 vs. 893) year-to-date. February alone also marked record-low shooting incidents, shooting victims, murders, and robberies in public housing. Compared to last year, shooting incidents decreased by 45.5% (6 vs. 11), shooting victims decreased by 36.4% (7 vs. 11), and robberies decreased by 33% (42 vs. 63).

Below ground, transit crime increased 18.5% (192 vs. 162) in February, a difference of 30 incidents. The increase coincided with record cold temperatures and snow in February, when ridership patterns shifted and the department paused ejections from the transit system for violations of the rules during the extreme weather. February saw a 61% decrease in ejections compared to January. The rise in transit crime was largely driven by felony assaults and nonviolent grand larcenies, which made up 27.1% and 51.6% of all transit crimes in February, respectively. Felony assaults on NYPD officers increased by 41.7% (17 vs. 12), representing 32.7% of all total felony assaults. Nonviolent grand larcenies were largely driven by thefts of unattended items, which surged 450% (22 vs. 4), and thefts from sleeping passengers, which rose 42.1% (27 vs. 22). In response, the NYPD has deployed approximately 140 additional cops a day into the transit system. Finally, Manhattan, which has the largest ridership of any borough, had a decrease of over 20% in overall index crime in February, while the Bronx had an increase of 116.7%.

In addition to these focused deployments, the department continues targeted efforts to protect young people across the city. At the start of the school year, the NYPD implemented its School Safety Plan, modeled after the Violence Reduction Plan. These zones focus on the areas where young people are most at risk — commuter corridors, bus stops, and routes to and from school. Since inception in September 2025, overall youth-related crime is down 56.7% (109 vs. 252), shooting incidents are down 71.4% (4 vs. 14), and shooting victims are down 75% (4 vs. 16) in the zones during deployment hours.

Previously, the department reported alleged hate crimes that were still under review. The NYPD will now report hate crimes that have been investigated and officially confirmed as such by the Hate Crimes Task Force. This updated methodology will provide a more accurate representation of confirmed hate crimes in the city. For the month of February, the NYPD recorded 38 hate crimes.

*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change. *

Index Crime Statistics: February 2026

Additional Statistics: February 2026

Rape Incident Reporting Statistics: February 2026

(Reports filed from February 1 – February 28 in years indicated)

Rape continues to be underreported. If you are a victim of sexual assault, please come forward. The 24-hour NYPD Special Victims Division hotline is: 212-267-RAPE (7273).

Hate Crime Statistics: February 2026

(Representing February 1 – February 28 for calendar year 2026)

Note: Statistics above reflect the updated methodology for reporting on hate crimes.