BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, January 8, 2025) - Yesterday, Mayor Brandon M. Scott was joined by Governor Moore, City leaders, community partners, and residents to mark the historic violence reductions Baltimore saw last year and share the City's public safety priorities for 2025.

Baltimore has experienced two back-to-back years of significant homicide reductions; both of the largest single-year drops in the city's history. In 2024, the city experienced 201 homicides, a 23% decrease on top of the 20% drop in homicides Baltimore saw in 2023. Additionally, non-fatal shootings declined 34%, 414 in 2024 compared to 635 in 2023, and juvenile victims of homicides and non-fatal shootings dropped a substantial 74%.

"The reductions in violence the City of Baltimore is seeing is the result of one thing: the collective work of Baltimoreans under a comprehensive strategy. These numbers would not be possible without the important work being done by the men and women at BPD, all of our partners in law enforcement, across the justice system - including the State's Attorney, Attorney General, and US Attorney - at the state in Governor Moore and his team, with MONSE, and each and every community-based partner and resident working in partnership to build safer communities across Baltimore," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "Still, 201 lives lost is 201 too many. As we enter 2025, we make note of what's working and commit ourselves to honor the memory of those we lost in 2024 by building on this progress even more in the year to come."

"Partnership produces progress - nothing else does. The data-backed results we've achieved in public safety don't happen by accident. They happen because of an all-of-the-above approach to tackling challenges head-on," said Gov. Wes Moore. "I want to thank Mayor Scott, our law enforcement partners, State's Attorneys, and community advocates for their leadership. Together, we will continue to make Maryland safer for all."

The City also held its annual Vigil of Remembrance last night where elected officials, faith leaders, and community partners stood together to honor the lives Baltimoreans lost in 2024 to violence, overdose, suicide, and other causes as an opportunity to grieve collectively as a community. Attendees participated in the reading of homicide victims' names and held candles to memorialize those who passed.

"I am proud to join Mayor Scott and Governor Moore in acknowledging another year of historic reductions in gun violence- progress that reflects the dedication and collaboration of the Baltimore Police Department, our partners, and most importantly, our community," said BPD Commissioner Richard Worley. "While we know there is more work to be done, we look forward to honoring the lives we lost to senseless violence at the Vigil of Remembrance. BPD remains steadfast in our commitment to building trust, prioritizing community-oriented policing, and driving meaningful change that makes Baltimore safer for all and ensures residents feel safe and protected.

"As the agency charged with overseeing Baltimore's comprehensive violence prevention plan, MONSE has worked hand in hand with BPD, community partners, and residents to improve public safety outcomes," said MONSE Director Stefanie Mavronis. "We are proud of the reductions in homicides that we have achieved this year as a result of our collective commitment to building a thriving Baltimore. As a City, we are proving that the public health approach to violence in our city is worthwhile, but the reality is that we've still lost hundreds of Baltimoreans this year from homicides, fatal overdose, and suicide. Any life lost in Baltimore is one too many, and we will continue this work until there are no more names to be read."

The Scott Administration remains committed to the implementation of a holistic, evidence-based approach to public safety and strengthening Baltimore's communities through the diligent efforts of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), community-based public safety partners, and advocates across all levels of government. This includes, the planned expansion of the City's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), ongoing work to strengthen Baltimore's Community Violence Intervention (CVI) ecosystem, efforts to improve victim services coordination, and continued progress on BPD's Federal Consent Decree.