Minneapolis is experiencing a noteworthy reduction in gun violence at the outset of 2025, setting a promising tone for the year. In a recent bulletin published on April 4th, local authorities, including Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey, shared the significant downturn in shooting victims and homicides, a trend that echoes pre-pandemic times and a welcome relief after a spike in 2022.
The city boasts its longest homicide-free stretch—since February 15, 2025—reminiscent of a similar period back in 2017. In O’Hara’s words, “Shootings and murders are what keep me up at night, and to see them drop to pre-pandemic levels—even with hundreds of fewer officers than what the MPD had before 2020—is truly remarkable.” This sentiment, according to the Minneapolis Bulletin, is shared by Mayor Frey, who emphasized the collaborative efforts that led to these positive results, despite recognizing that “our work is far from over.”
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) credits targeted enforcement, strategic focus on high-impact offenders, and community outreach partnerships for these results. Moreover, concerted actions like the Robbery Pattern Response Protocol and the Juvenile Curfew Taskforce have contributed to the decline in violent episodes and other related crimes in Minneapolis, as detailed in the city’s recent update…