Rochester sees dramatic drop in gun violence as shootings fall to lowest level in more than eight years

Rochester, New York – Rochester has reached a major milestone in its fight against violent crime, with city officials announcing that gun violence has dropped to its lowest point in more than eight years — a dramatic turnaround from the sharp rise in shootings seen during and after the pandemic years.

During a public safety briefing Thursday, Malik D. Evans said the city recorded 150 shootings over the rolling 365-day period ending May 10, according to data from the Rochester Police Department. The figure marks the lowest level since December 2018 and represents a staggering 95 percent decrease from the violent peaks Rochester experienced in 2021 and 2022.

City leaders described the numbers as more than just a statistical victory. For many residents, they signal a shift in momentum after years of fear, grief, and repeated calls for stronger action against gun violence.

“After the pandemic, the people of Rochester came together like never before to create a new normal, and now working together is the new normal,” Mayor Evans said. “I call it the Rochester Way. And I’m happy to say there is no area of government service where the Rochester Way has been more effective than public safety and violence reduction.”

Officials emphasized that the improvement did not happen overnight. Instead, they pointed to years of coordinated efforts between local police, federal agencies, state authorities, community groups, and violence prevention programs. Evans said collaboration has become central to Rochester’s approach, with city departments working alongside organizations throughout the community to address crime before it escalates.

Read also: Governor Hochul announces major 79-acre expansion project for Saratoga Spa State Park in New York

The mayor credited partnerships with Monroe County, New York State agencies, and law enforcement at every level for helping reduce shootings across the city. He also highlighted Rochester’s prevention-intervention-suppression strategy, which combines policing efforts with outreach programs, youth engagement, and conflict mediation initiatives.

The city’s rolling 365-day shooting total is considered one of the clearest indicators of long-term crime trends because it tracks an entire year of incidents ending each day. Unlike monthly or seasonal comparisons, the method smooths out sudden spikes or short-term fluctuations that can distort the bigger picture.

The broader crime data released Thursday also showed continued progress during the opening months of 2026. Compared with the same four-month period in 2025, total shootings in Rochester declined by 16 percent. Fatal shootings dropped even more sharply, falling by 88 percent, while total homicides were down by 82 percent.

Those numbers reflect one of the strongest year-over-year improvements the city has reported in recent memory.

At the news conference, Police Chief David Smith outlined the department’s latest violence-prevention efforts and discussed how officers have been working alongside community partners to identify high-risk situations before they lead to shootings.

Meanwhile, Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano provided updates on several department initiatives, including preparations for the Rochester Fire Department’s upcoming 200th anniversary celebrations later this year.

Public safety officials also stressed that reducing violence requires more than arrests and enforcement alone.

Read also: State Police continue investigation after fatal golf cart crash on Route 12 in Alexandria

Dr. Shirley Green, commissioner of the city’s Department of Recreation and Human Services, spoke about the role youth programs, recreation services, and neighborhood outreach efforts continue to play in preventing violence before it begins. Programs aimed at young people, city leaders said, remain an important piece of Rochester’s long-term strategy.

In addition, Zequa Tookes discussed ongoing progress within Pathways to Peace and the Advance Peace: Peacemaker Fellowship, two initiatives designed to interrupt cycles of retaliation and help individuals at the center of violent conflicts move toward safer alternatives.

For Rochester residents, the latest numbers offer cautious optimism after years in which shootings dominated headlines and strained neighborhoods across the city. While officials acknowledged there is still work ahead, Thursday’s update painted a picture of a city beginning to regain stability through sustained cooperation and community involvement.

The decline in gun violence now stands as one of the clearest signs yet that Rochester’s public safety strategy may be producing lasting results.