America's murder capital has record-low homicides for April

Daily Mail​

01-05-2025

The Maryland city once known as America's murder capital reached a record-breaking drop in homicides.
There were only five homicides in Baltimore throughout April, Mayor Brandon Scott announced on Thursday.
That is the fewest ever recorded in a single month for the city since officials started keeping records in 1970.
Charm City was once home to some of the country's highest crime rates, earning it the title of America's 'murder capital' and a reputation as the crime-ridden city portrayed in HBO 's hit series 'The Wire.'
Through the end of April, homicides are down 31.6 percent and nonfatal shootings are down 27.1 percent compared to last year.
The city recorded its lowest homicide rate in nearly 15 years in 2024, with 201 homicides marking a dramatic 12 percent decrease from 2023 and a staggering 41 percent drop from 2021 levels.
'This continued progress is a direct result of our comprehensive violence prevention plan, and all who are working in partnership to reduce violence in Baltimore,' Scott said.
'That includes the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department, the entire community violence intervention ecosystem, the Attorney General, the State's Attorney, and most importantly, the people of Baltimore.
'This is progress, but we aren't stopping to celebrate. Five homicides in April is still five too many - and we will continue to use all tools at our disposal to prevent violence and save lives. Baltimore deserves nothing less.'
Maryland as a whole is becoming safer too, with statewide homicides falling from 519 in 2023 to 455 in 2024, while violent crimes plummeted from 1,190 to 891 during the same period.
A recent report from U.S. News & World Report no longer included Baltimore among the most dangerous places in America.
The digital media company released its Most Dangerous Places in the U.S. 2024-2025 list and normally Baltimore would be in the Top 25 but this year it didn't make the cut.
The list is compiled based on a city's murder and property crime rates per 100,000 people.
While Baltimore still ranks among cities with high murder rates per 100,000 people, experts point to major progress.
Karen Herren, executive director of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence, credits the improvement to a coordinated approach.
'There is not one simple solution to gun violence, or we would have figured it out a long time ago. There are a lot of different pieces, and those pieces have to start working in tandem, which I think is partially what we are seeing,' Herren said to WYPR.
The Justice Department has attributed the success in reducing crime to specialized teams focused on firearm crimes and repeat violent offenders.
'I'm very proud of the leadership that this office's public servants have shown in coordinating law enforcement and community efforts throughout Maryland and beyond to protect our nation and promote safer communities,' U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.
'We will continue to be a force-multiplier for the work of our various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and community-based partners.'
Baltimore has dramatically reinvented itself with a new identity as an up-and-coming hotspot for luxury hotels and foodie hotspots.
Where 'The Wire' depicted abandoned row houses and open-air drug markets, visitors today might be more likely to find craft cocktail bars, waterfront developments and Michelin-quality restaurants.
Kelly Harris, a Maryland-based Realtor and real estate investor, has witnessed the city's evolution up close.
'Baltimore's housing market has grown steadily over the last three to five years, with average home prices increasing nearly 20 to 30 percent in key neighborhoods,' Harris told the DailyMail.com.