Philadelphia has witnessed the largest reduction in gun violence among major U.S. cities so far this year, according to new data. The city experienced a nearly 16% drop in gun violence in April, surpassing the national decline of 13%.
The information was compiled by the independent policy group Center for American Progress, which highlighted that a four-month sample can be a reliable indicator of a yearly trend.
These findings align with an FBI analysis released in early July, which reported a 15% decrease in violent crime across the United States from January to March, compared to the same period last year. The data was sourced from 72% of the nation’s law enforcement agencies that voluntarily submitted their statistics.
"Collectively, we are bending the gun violence curve in Philadelphia. We are heartened by this progress but must remain steadfast in our commitment to saving lives through gun violence intervention efforts," said Estelle Richman, executive director of the Civic Coalition to Save Lives.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel expressed optimism about the trend. "We’re excited about the trend that we’re seeing," Bethel said. However, he noted that with the onset of summer, caution is necessary to avoid overestimating the progress.
The Parker Administration employs a three-pronged approach to gun violence: Prevention, Intervention and Enforcement (PIE). Estelle Richman, executive director of the Civic Coalition to Save Lives, emphasizes that all three pieces are critically important to making the City safer. The Coalition supports community-based groups and programs that focus on Intervention, which research suggests can reduce gun violence in the near-term - in as few as 6-12 months.
At the end of 2023, homicides were down more than 20% in Philadelphia compared with the same period in 2022; to date, there has been a 38% decrease from 2023, according to data from the Philadelphia City Controller’s Office.
"The significant decrease in gun violence in Philadelphia is a testament to the collective work of the Philadelphia Police Department, the District Attorney's Office and the community and faith-based organizations working everyday to make a tangible difference in our communities," stated Estelle Richman. "We are encouraged by this progress and remain committed to supporting Intervention-based efforts to further this positive trend."
