What's contributing to Boston's drastic homicide decline in 2024?

NEWS CENTER FIVE. EMILY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY, SUMMER, IT CAN BE NOTORIOUS FOR A SPIKE IN VIOLENCE IN BOSTON, BUT RIGHT NOW, HOMICIDE RATES ARE AT A HISTORIC LOW. FIVE INVESTIGATES BRITTANY JOHNSON DUG INTO THE REASONS WHY AND WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN FOR THE SUMMER AHEAD. BRITTANY. THAT’S RIGHT. HOMICIDE RATES HAVE BEEN DROPPING IN BOSTON FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. BUT THE DROP THIS YEAR HAS PEOPLE WONDERING IF THIS TREND HAS TAKEN A LASTING TURN. IT DOMINATES HEADLINES AND TV NEWS WHEN IT HAPPENS. A TOTAL OF FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT, TWO OF THEM KILLED. BUT ACTUALLY HOMICIDES IN BOSTON ARE WAY DOWN. THIS YEAR. IT IS SHOCKING, RIGHT? IT’S NOTEWORTHY WHENEVER WE SEE THESE BIG CHANGES IN CRIME, ESPECIALLY THE REDUCTIONS NORTH EASTON UNIVERSITY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JACOB STOLL HAS BEEN TRACKING CRIME SINCE THE EARLY 2000. HE SAYS HOMICIDES HAVE BEEN ON A DOWNWARD TREND, BUT SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE DROP IS DRASTIC. THAT’S VERY PROMISING AND THAT’S VERY ENCOURAGING. BOSTON POLICE DATA SHOWS JUST HOW DRASTIC THERE HAVE BEEN. JUST FOUR HOMICIDES, A NEAR 80% REDUCTION FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR. AT THIS RATE THIS YEAR, WE WOULD SEE LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN 2023. ALSO TRENDING DOWN THIS YEAR. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOT AND INCIDENTS OF SHOTS FIRED. WE ARE SEEING REDUCTIONS BOTH IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO WHO DIE AS A RESULT, BUT ALSO JUST THE GENERAL NUMBER OF GUNSHOT VICTIMS. THE DECREASE IN HOMICIDES. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT’S UNIQUE TO BOSTON? THE MAGNITUDE OF THE REDUCTION, I THINK, IS PRETTY IS PRETTY UNIQUE. STOLL ATTRIBUTES THE DROP TO MORE THAN ONE FACTOR, INCLUDING LOW GUN OWNERSHIP RATES. THE STATE’S HIGH QUALITY HOSPITALS, CITY PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY YOUTH GROUPS. THAT’S MATT AN IMPROVEMENT. YOU FEEL ME LIKE IT ALSO LIKE GIVES YOU LIKE A LITTLE SENSE OF MORE SECURITY. JEROME WELLS AND ANTHONY EMANUEL WITH THE CENTER FOR TEEN EMPOWERMENT ARE HAPPY TO HEAR THEY MAY BE HELPING DECREASE VIOLENCE. THE GROUP WORKS WITH TEENAGERS TO PROMOTE PEACE, EQUITY AND JUSTICE. TO BE HONEST, I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW LIKE THE THE PERCENTAGES WAS GOING DOWN COMPARED TO LAST SUMMER. BUT NOW, LIKE I’VE SEEN, I’VE GAINED MORE AWARENESS ON THESE TOPICS WHILE BEING IN T, AND THAT MADE ME WANT TO PURSUE THE THE ENDEAVOR MORE. BUT AS SUMMER APPROACHES AND THE CITY HEATS UP, THE QUESTION WILL THE CALM REMAIN OR WILL VIOLENT CRIMES IN BOSTON FLARE AS THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT, THERE’S MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOR ENGAGEMENT, BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE. BUT JEROME AND ANTHONY ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE DROP IN VIOLENCE WILL LAST. I FEEL LIKE ONE THING THAT WE COULD DO TO REALLY KEEP THESE NUMBERS LOW IS FOR ME TO JUST KEEP DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, I MEAN, THROWING COMMUNITY EVENTS, TRYING TO GIVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE A VOICE TO REALLY SPEAK UP. BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER MICHAEL COX SAYS THERE’S NOT ENOUGH DATA TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE DECREASE, BUT ADDS, QUOTE, OUR OFFICERS DO GREAT WORK WHEN WE LISTEN TO OUR RESIDENTS AND USE OUR RESOURCES WHERE THEY TELL US THEY NEED SUPPORT, THE

Murder rates have been dropping in Boston for the past several years, but the drastic decline in homicides in 2024 has people wondering if this trend has taken a lasting turn.5 Investigates reached out to Northeastern University Assistant Professor Jacob Stowell for perspective."It is shocking," Stowell said. "It's noteworthy whenever we see these big changes in crime, especially the reductions."Stowell has been tracking crime since the early 2000s and said homicides have been on a downward trend.So far, there have been just four homicides in the city of Boston, which is nearly an 80-percent reduction from this time last year, according to Boston police data. At this current rate, this year would see less than one-third of the number of homicides in 2023.The number of people shot and incidents of shots fired is also trending down this year."We are seeing reductions both in terms of not only the number of folks who die as a result, but also just the general number of gunshot victims," Stowell explained."The decrease in homicides, is that something that's unique to Boston?" 5 Investigates' Brittany Johnson, asked. "The magnitude of the reduction I think is pretty unique," replied Stowell. "I should also mention that when you look at the comparative rates across regions, the Northeast is actually outpacing all of the other regions in terms of its reduction in homicide rates." Stowell said there are several reasons for Boston's low homicide rate this year."Boston and Massachusetts generally has low gun ownership rates, which contributes. I know that the mayor has initiated some programs to help lower violence generally, but also to take folks at most risk for those events to kind of take them out of those environments as best that they can. I think that we have a very educated population in Boston and Massachusetts, and we know that education, higher levels of educational attainment, both on the individual level but also as a community characteristic, are associated with lower levels of lethal violence. I also think that we are a very diverse city, and what research has also shown is that areas that have not only more diverse, but a diverse population, tend to have lower levels of homicide," said Stowell.Stowell also pointed to the state's high-quality hospitals, city programs and community youth groups.We told the news about the low homicide numbers to members of The Center for Teen Empowerment, a youth-led organization that works with teenagers to promote peace, equity and justice."That's mad improvement," Jerome Wells said in response to news of the drop. "I also feel that it gives you a little more sense of security."Wells, along with coworker Anthony Emmanuel, were happy to hear the work they're doing may be helping decrease violence in the city. "To be honest, I didn't even know the percentages were going down compared to last summer," Emmanuel said. "But I've gained more awareness on these topics while being involved with TE (Teen Empowerment) and that made me want to pursue the endeavor even more."But as summer approaches and the city heats up, the question that is being asked is: will the calm remain or will violent crimes in Boston, flare up? "Just as a general pattern, we would expect to see a slight increase over the hotter months," said Stowell. "As there are more people out and about, there's more opportunity for engagement, both positive and negative."Wells and Emmanuel are hopeful that the drop in violence will be sustained."I feel like one thing we can do to continue to keep these numbers low is to keep doing what we're doing now. Continue throwing community events and give young people a voice to really speak up," Wells said. WCVB 5 Investigates reached out to the Boston Police Department and Mayor Michelle Wu's office for comment. Commissioner Michael Cox sent the following statement:“We are in law enforcement but we are practicing data-driven Community Policing. The crucial elements of that are building trust and partnerships. I don’t know that there is enough data available to say what is causing the decrease, but I will say that our officers do great work. When we listen to our residents and use our resources where they tell us they need support, the public partners with us by participating in public safety."A Wu spokesperson responded by sending a copy of this press release.

BOSTON —

Murder rates have been dropping in Boston for the past several years, but the drastic decline in homicides in 2024 has people wondering if this trend has taken a lasting turn.

5 Investigates reached out to Northeastern University Assistant Professor Jacob Stowell for perspective.

"It is shocking," Stowell said. "It's noteworthy whenever we see these big changes in crime, especially the reductions."

Stowell has been tracking crime since the early 2000s and said homicides have been on a downward trend.

So far, there have been just four homicides in the city of Boston, which is nearly an 80-percent reduction from this time last year, according to Boston police data.

At this current rate, this year would see less than one-third of the number of homicides in 2023.

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The number of people shot and incidents of shots fired is also trending down this year.

"We are seeing reductions both in terms of not only the number of folks who die as a result, but also just the general number of gunshot victims," Stowell explained.

"The decrease in homicides, is that something that's unique to Boston?" 5 Investigates' Brittany Johnson, asked.

"The magnitude of the reduction I think is pretty unique," replied Stowell. "I should also mention that when you look at the comparative rates across regions, the Northeast is actually outpacing all of the other regions in terms of its reduction in homicide rates."

Stowell said there are several reasons for Boston's low homicide rate this year.

"Boston and Massachusetts generally has low gun ownership rates, which contributes. I know that the mayor has initiated some programs to help lower violence generally, but also to take folks at most risk for those events to kind of take them out of those environments as best that they can. I think that we have a very educated population in Boston and Massachusetts, and we know that education, higher levels of educational attainment, both on the individual level but also as a community characteristic, are associated with lower levels of lethal violence. I also think that we are a very diverse city, and what research has also shown is that areas that have not only more diverse, but a diverse population, tend to have lower levels of homicide," said Stowell.

Stowell also pointed to the state's high-quality hospitals, city programs and community youth groups.

We told the news about the low homicide numbers to members of The Center for Teen Empowerment, a youth-led organization that works with teenagers to promote peace, equity and justice.

"That's mad improvement," Jerome Wells said in response to news of the drop. "I also feel that it gives you a little more sense of security."

Wells, along with coworker Anthony Emmanuel, were happy to hear the work they're doing may be helping decrease violence in the city.

"To be honest, I didn't even know the percentages were going down compared to last summer," Emmanuel said. "But I've gained more awareness on these topics while being involved with TE (Teen Empowerment) and that made me want to pursue the endeavor even more."

But as summer approaches and the city heats up, the question that is being asked is: will the calm remain or will violent crimes in Boston, flare up?

"Just as a general pattern, we would expect to see a slight increase over the hotter months," said Stowell. "As there are more people out and about, there's more opportunity for engagement, both positive and negative."

Wells and Emmanuel are hopeful that the drop in violence will be sustained.

"I feel like one thing we can do to continue to keep these numbers low is to keep doing what we're doing now. Continue throwing community events and give young people a voice to really speak up," Wells said.

WCVB 5 Investigates reached out to the Boston Police Department and Mayor Michelle Wu's office for comment.

Commissioner Michael Cox sent the following statement:

“We are in law enforcement but we are practicing data-driven Community Policing. The crucial elements of that are building trust and partnerships. I don’t know that there is enough data available to say what is causing the decrease, but I will say that our officers do great work. When we listen to our residents and use our resources where they tell us they need support, the public partners with us by participating in public safety."

A Wu spokesperson responded by sending a copy of this press release.

What's contributing to Boston's drastic homicide decline in 2024?

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