Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday that the first half of 2026 has the lowest number of shootings and murders on record, despite the number of teens pulling triggers growing.

Tisch said, alongside Mamdani inside police headquarters on July 2, that there have been 322 shootings so far this year in Big Apple, which beats the previous record of 337 set in 2018. The gun violence this year left 381 victims in its wake, which is less than the previous low of 397 set in 2025. The number of murders also hit an all time low with 122 compared to the previous record of 136 in 2017.

“Each of these numbers represents a life untouched by violence, a New Yorker who never had to endure what would have otherwise been the worst day in their life, a New Yorker who will sit down to dinner with their family this evening without grief heavy overhead, a New Yorker who no longer dreads riding the subway home at night,” Mamdani said. “A New Yorker who knows they are safe to take an evening stroll through their neighborhood alone or host a picnic with their family and friends in the park. Each of these numbers, each of these lies tell the story of a city that is safer.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday that the first half of 2026 has the lowest number of shootings and murders on record, despite the number of teens pulling triggers growing.Photo by Dean Moses

Police say overall major crime also fell by 5.8% for the first half of the year with 3,424 fewer crimes compared to the first six months of 2025. Burglary declined 15.8% (5,354 vs. 6,359) year to date, the lowest level since 2019, and declined by 12.9% (2,700 vs. 3,099) for the second quarter.

Burglaries dropped in all five boroughs, with the largest reduction occurring on Staten Island, down 31.6% (121 vs. 177). Robbery declined 12% (6,387 vs. 7,248) year to date and 15.7% (3,421 vs. 4,056) for the quarter. Auto theft declined 9.7% (5,838 vs. 6,467), Rapes however, have increased 5.8% (1,066 vs. 1,008). and police say this is due to legislative changes enacted through the Rape is Rape Act which  broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State.

“What makes these numbers even more significant is the benchmark that they are being measured against. Last year, New York City reached historic lows in shooting incidents and shooting victims, those are not easy numbers to improve on,” Tisch said. 

Despite overall shootings dropping to historic lows, Commissioner Tisch told amNewYork the number of teens pulling the triggers are climbing in a disturbing trend.

“Unfortunately, each year the percentage of those shooting incidents that are committed by kids, well under the age of 18, continues to rise. Last year, 19% of all suspects in shooting incidents were kids under the age of 18. This year, that number is at 22%,” Tisch said.

While overall subway crime fell by 1%, murders in the transit system are actually up by two this year, robberies are up by 18 incidents, and felony assaults are up by 20 incidents. According to Tisch, these crimes are also being driven by teens.

“For transit robbery, the increase is being driven in part by juveniles committing robberies in the system, including 13-year-olds; in fact, 48% of robbery arrestees in transit are 18 or younger,” Tisch said. “Officers have also recovered 39 guns in transit.”

Hate crimes are also on an upward trend, so far this year increasing by 8% citywide. And although New York’s Jewish community only makes up 10% of the population, they made up 55% of all victims in the rising tide.