Baltimore saw a reduction in gun violence, homicides in 2024

The city of Baltimore saw a reduction in gun violence and homicides in 2024, according to the Baltimore Police Department’s 2024 year-end crime report.

Baltimore homicides reduction

According to the report, homicides went down 23% in 2024, with a total of 201 compared to 261 homicides in 2023.

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott is celebrating the accomplishments, attributing unique strategies to the decrease.

Scott released his first term report, crediting programs to the reduction in homicides and positive progress in public safety, youth programs, and more.

City programs helping reduce Baltimore homicides

In Scott’s report, he discusses the city’s Gun Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), which he says “facilitates direct, sustained engagement with a small number of group-involved individuals who are the most likely to be the victim or perpetrator of violence.”

In November, Scott credited the GVRS with a 34% decrease in non-fatal shootings between 2023 and 2024.

According to the report, 195 program participants stepped away from violence.

The report also cites progress in Baltimore’s Safe Streets program. Six communities, Belvedere, Woodbourne McCabe, Park Heights, Penn North, Franklin Square, and Brooklyn saw a year without homicides, according to the report.

Other improvements

Those were not the only improvement markers, according to the department.

The report also states that in 2024 Baltimore Police achieved clearance rates above the national average for major crimes, including homicides (68%), non-fatal shootings (44%), robbery (37%), and aggravated assaults (69%).