Boston homicide rate ticks up, though city officials say violence remains near historic low

Boston’s homicide rate has increased this year, with 31 deaths to date, up from last year’s historic low of 24.

Police Commissioner Michael Cox had warned the public in August that the city was on track to exceed the homicide rate from 2024, which was the lowest since the Boston began tracking the figure.

Cox did not offer an explanation into the uptick in homicides, but said the figure remains low. At a Monday press conference, he highlighted progress in other areas.

“Year to date, the number of shooting victims and instances of gunfire in the city are both currently at historic lows,” Cox said, noting they are down more than 30% compared to five-year averages.

Cox spoke at the new Boston EMS training center in West Roxbury. He was joined by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and leaders from fire, emergency services and public health departments for a year-end recap of the city’s public safety record.

Boston's safety record is something the mayor touts routinely, particularly in the face of criticism from the Trump administration. At the press conference, she reiterated the message that Boston is safe city.

Cox offered further updates on police efforts to crack down on retail theft, boost community policing and address “reckless operations” of motor scooters.

“Our statistics show that this is not only a quality-of-life issue, but a traffic safety issue,” Cox said of the scooters. He said officers have seized over 840 motor scooters, including 160 from the downtown area this year. That marks a 22% jump from 2024, said Cox.

On efforts to reduce drugs, crime and homelessness around the intersection known as Mass. and Cass, he said officers have made 54% more arrests in the past year. The police and the mayor have been under pressure from neighbors, particularly in the South End, to do more on the issue.

The press conference came in the wake of two fatal mass shootings over the weekend,  one at Brown University and another in Australia.

“ It is unthinkable that we live in a world where you don't even have time to process one major horrific incident of violence before the next takes place,” Wu said, offering condolences to both communities. “And all the more reason why it is important for us to focus on safety, to double down on community members knowing that they can trust and be in community together.”

Wu said the city took 673 guns off the street in the past year.