New York’s fight against gun violence, has, during the first four months of 2026 compared to last year, has seen communities reporting a decrease in shooting violence and homicides, including the city of Utica.
In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative has reported new data from the Division of Criminal Justice Services, showing shooting incidents with injury dropped 17%, the number of shooting victims declined 19%, and the number of individuals killed by a firearm decreased 43%.
At the same time, there were no firearm-related homicides in 18 of the 28 GIVE communities.
“New Yorkers are safer today because of our continued investments in proven, data-driven strategies that are helping reduce gun violence and save lives,” Hochul said in a statement.
“Everyone deserves to live free from the scourge of gun violence. As we work to continue this progress across communities that experience gun violence, my administration will continue to support the hard work of law enforcement, community organizations and local leaders on the front lines of this fight.”
GIVE police departments report no firearm-related homicides
The following GIVE police departments reported no firearm-related homicides during the first four months of the year:
UPD sees successful beginning to year
Utica Police Lieutenant Michael Curley Said that the Utica Police Department has had a very successful beginning to 2026.
“We attribute it to our overall gun violence reduction program, which includes enhancements in technology, street outreach, and positive community contacts,” he said. “We will continue to target the most dangerous gun offenders to hold them accountable and we thank our community partners in their efforts in reducing gun violence in our city.”
Compared to the first four months of 2021 in New York state, the reductions are even more significant. Shooting incidents with injury declined 64%, from 324 to 116 incidents. Shooting victims decreased 66%, from 373 to 127, and firearm-related murders dropped 66%, from 61 to 21 deaths.
These positive trends in GIVE communities follow last year’s all-time low numbers for all three shooting data points, which the state began collecting in 2006.
Utica Mayor Michael Galime said, “GIVE is essential to public safety. It is not just funding. It is a part of how we protect our communities. Governor Hochul’s continued support of GIVE is directly attributed to our endless fight against gun-involved violence.”
A look at other communities
Outside of Utica, gun violence in Buffalo and Rochester also continued to decline significantly.
The Buffalo Police Department reported four firearm-related murders during the first four months of 2026, compared to 10 during the same period last year and 25 in 2021. Buffalo also saw a 32% decrease in shooting incidents with injury and a 34% decline in shooting victims compared to 2025. Compared to 2021, shooting incidents with injury and shooting victims each declined by more than 75%.
Administered by the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the GIVE initiative provides more than $36 million to participating police departments, district attorneys’ offices, probation departments, and sheriffs’ offices, and training and technical assistance that supports a comprehensive approach to addressing gun violence, combining data-driven policing, focused deterrence, street outreach, youth engagement and community-based violence prevention strategies.
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State has continued to make strategic investments that are helping reduce gun violence and save lives,” DCJS Commissioner Rossana Rosado said. “Every decline in violence means more families kept whole, more children growing up in safer neighborhoods and more communities able to thrive free from the fear and trauma caused by gun violence. These results reflect the commitment of law enforcement, community organizations and local leaders working together every day to build a safer New York for everyone.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: GIVE communities report fewer shooting injuries, homicides
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
