PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Gun violence in Philadelphia continues to decline in the first half of the year. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel credits citizens for their contributions to the drop in violence.
So far, there have been fewer than 100 homicides this year. That’s down from 319 homicides by this time in 2021, and on pace to have fewer homicides and shooting victims than the previous year for the fifth year running.
Bethel said the number of shootings is a fraction of what it was just four years ago, with 354 incidents so far compared to nearly 1,200 around the same time in 2022.
He credits his detectives and the community, as well as new technology like cellphones and license plate readers, for the reduction in shootings.
“There are those community groups on the ground saying, ‘We’re not going to take it anymore,’ those folks who are working with young people and keeping them on the right direction,” Bethel said. “All of this links together, and so we’re winning.”
The commissioner has also signed off on rewards of up to $20,000 for information that can aid in homicide investigations, and said detectives have solved more than 90% of murders this year.
