NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Gun violence in New Jersey is declining to the lowest level since they began tracking the data, officials say. Gov. Phil Murphy says the Garden State hit a milestone last year, with fewer than 1,000 shootings.
2023 saw about 900 shootings and 191 deaths, which he says is down from an average of more than 2,000 shootings and 500 deaths in the years before he took office.
"Over the past year together, we have saved a historic number of lives from gun violence in New Jersey."
Murphy says, while any number above zero is unacceptable, this decrease represents tremendous progress.
"That means more families have remained intact, more children will be able to grow up and live up to their full potential. And we are helping people feel safer in their homes and on our streets," Murphy said.
Murphy thanked law enforcement, the attorney general, and community anti-violence groups for collaborative efforts to bring the numbers down, and he says this work will continue to deliver results for New Jersey families.
