NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – Friday afternoon, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew and Mayor Phillip Jones will address gun violence in the city during a press conference.
The conference will focus on the number of gun-related crimes in the first half of this year, following a significant drop in the city’s homicide rate in 2024.
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Newport News Police reported the homicide rate dropped more than 50% compared to 2023. The city had 48 homicides in 2023. That number fell to the mid-20s last year. The report also noted a significant overall decrease in shootings.
Despite these improvements, recent months have seen several deadly shootings in the city…