Shootings reach historic low in NYC, says Mayor Adams

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday celebrated a sharp drop in gun violence across the five boroughs, and said New York City now sees fewer shootings than any other point in modern history.

“For five straight quarters we've had decreases in gun violence, but this quarter, we had the lowest number of shootings in recorded history,” Adams said on a WBLS appearance Sunday morning.

NYPD data shows shooting incidents fell by 23% during the first three months of 2025 from the same period last year. Police reported 140 total shooting incidents in the quarter.

Adams made gun violence a central issue in his 2021 mayoral campaign. And while the NYPD has seen dramatic turnover and scandal under his watch — including the resignations of three police commissioners — the mayor has also regularly highlighted his push to get illegal firearms off city streets.

According to the mayor, more than 1,600 guns have been seized so far this year and over 21,400 guns during his tenure in office.

Guns still prove to be a major problem in the city. Adams on Sunday confirmed an off-duty police officer was shot in Astoria earlier in the morning.

The mayor also said he spoke with the son of Excenia Mette, the 61-year-old innocent bystander who was shot and killed in Harlem last week.

“Two individuals shooting at each other and one of them was just arrested last year for stabbing people during a robbery,” Adams said. “These are the revolving door problems we’re talking about.”

As shootings continue to trend downwards, NYPD data shows New Yorkers are more likely to be killed by a knife or a car than by a gun. Last year, more New Yorkers were killed in stabbings than shootings. City data also shows that more people were killed in traffic crashes last year than to gun violence.