NYPD ANNOUNCES FEWEST MURDERS, SHOOTING INCIDENTS IN RECORDED HISTORY FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR

Major Crime Declined 5.3% Citywide, Led by the Bronx with 9.4% Decrease in Major Crime

Burglaries Dropped 20.6% to the Second-Lowest Level in Recorded History

Safest Start to the Year in Public Housing in Recorded History with Fewest Murders, Shooting Incidents, Shooting Victims, and Robberies 

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that the NYPD delivered the fewest murders and shooting incidents for the first quarter of the year in recorded history. During the first three months of 2026, there were 54 murders in New York City, beating the previous all-time low of 60 murders set in 2018. The city recorded 139 shooting incidents in the first quarter, tying the all-time low of 139 set in 2025, the safest year in recorded history for gun violence.

Major crime continued to fall, down 5.3% citywide, led by the Bronx, which saw a 9.4% decrease. Burglary dropped 20.6% year-to-date, falling to the second-lowest level in recorded history. These historic reductions extended to the city’s public housing developments, where the NYPD delivered the safest start to any year in recorded history with the fewest murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies. 

“Three months into 2026, the NYPD continues to build on the historic progress we saw last year and drive down crime across New York City,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Citywide, major crime dropped with over 1,400 fewer reported crimes compared to 2025, murders and shootings reached their lowest levels ever recorded for a first quarter, and our public housing developments had the safest start to the year for gun violence in history. These results are driven by our precision policing strategy to go after guns, take down violent gangs, and put officers on foot posts where they are needed most. I thank the women and men of this department who take this strategy and relentlessly turn it into action on the ground.”

“The data we are releasing today should be encouraging to every New Yorker. The numbers tell a clear, indisputable story: our approach to public safety is working,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “These numbers speak to an NYPD using every lever at its disposal to deliver a safer New York City to all who call it home.”

Driving Major Crime Down to Record-Lows

The NYPD continues to combat violent crime and shootings through its Winter Violence Reduction Plan, which deploys up to 1,800 uniformed officers on nightly foot posts across 64 zones in 34 precincts, public housing, and the subway system. Since launching in January, major crime is down 23.2% (596 vs. 776) and shootings are down 63.6% (8 vs.22) in the zones during deployment hours.

Citywide, overall major crime fell 5.3% (25,582 vs. 27,003) with 1,421 fewer reported crimes compared to 2025. Year-to-date, major crime is down in all five boroughs, led by the Bronx, which is down 9.4% (6,298 vs. 6,950) resulting in a staggering 650 fewer reported crimes. Last year, the NYPD delivered the safest year in recorded history for gun violence. The city is now on pace with that historic low, tying the record with 139 shooting incidents in the first quarter. Shooting victims are also tied at 163 compared to last year, the second fewest ever, only two behind the 161 victims recorded in 2017. Driving these numbers are the NYPD’s work to remove guns from streets and take down the most dangerous gangs. In the first three months of this year, the NYPD seized 1,146 guns.

Murders fell 28% (54 vs. 75) citywide, reaching the lowest level ever recorded for a first quarter. Year-to-date, murder is down more than 57% (12 vs. 28) in Brooklyn, more than 44% (5 vs. 9) in Manhattan, and nearly 6% (16 vs. 17) in Queens. Staten Island has had zero murders so far in 2026. And in the Bronx, there were two more murders this year than in 2025 year-to-date (21 vs. 19).

Burglaries plummeted to their second-lowest level on record, declining 20.6% (2,587 vs. 3,259) for the quarter. Residential burglaries are also down nearly 20%, reaching record lows. These numbers are the result of the department’s Precision Task Force approach, which brings patrol officers, detectives, Intel and crime analysts, and specialized units together to coordinate on driving down burglaries.

Grand larceny declined 3.6% (10,208 vs. 10,587) for the quarter, led by a 10.6% decline in the Bronx (1,872 vs. 2,095).

Robbery decreased nearly 8% (2,941 vs. 3,192) for the quarter and is down across all five boroughs. There were 1,000 fewer robberies during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2024 (2,941 vs. 3,983).

There were 44 fewer felony assaults or a decrease of nearly 1% (6,572 vs. 6,616) for the quarter, marking the first year since 2021 that the first quarter is down in felony assaults.

Auto theft fell 3.6% (2,697 vs. 2,799) for the quarter, led by an 18.2% drop in the Bronx (815 vs. 996). 

Retail theft is down 20.1% (10,973 vs. 13,738) citywide year-to-date, with double-digit declines in all five boroughs. The decline reflects the NYPD’s focused strategy to address retail theft that started last year and involves: identifying the patterns driving these crimes, concentrating resources at high-propensity locations during peak hours, and shifting from pass-through enforcement to sustained investigation.

Rape incidents are up 10.1% (523 vs. 475) for the quarter. The rise in reported rape incidents can be partially attributed to legislative changes enacted in September 2024, which rightfully broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State to include additional forms of sexual assault. Additionally, the NYPD has enhanced its work with advocates to encourage all survivors of sexual assault to come forward and report these incidents.

Historic Crime Reductions in Public Housing

The NYPD is also delivering historic reductions in gun violence in public housing developments across the city. Overall crime in public housing fell 7.2% year-to-date (1,266 vs. 1,364) and reached record lows for murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies. Year-to-date, murders are down 62.5% (3 vs. 8), shooting incidents are down 29.6% (19 vs. 27), shooting victims are down 27.6% (21 vs. 29), and robberies are down 27.3% (157 vs. 216).

Keeping the Subway System Safe

Last year was the safest year on New York City’s subway since 2009, excluding the pandemic years, and the NYPD has sustained that progress with overall subway crime down 1.3% (537 vs. 544), grand larceny down 9.1% (251 vs. 276), which is an all-time low excluding 2021, and felony assault down 6.6% (155 vs. 166).

Reporting Hate Crimes

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force (HCTF) investigates allegations of hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents. There are two data sets related to hate crimes that the NYPD will share on a monthly basis moving forward: 1) confirmed hate crimes and 2) reported hate crimes. After an incident is flagged as a possible hate crime, the HCTF investigates and determines, in consultation with the NYPD Legal Bureau, whether it constitutes a hate crime under New York State law. If an incident is deemed a hate crime under the law, it will be categorized as a confirmed hate crime.

The NYPD has publicly disclosed confirmed hate crime data for years. This is the first time the NYPD is providing data on the universe of reported hate crimes — whether or not they are ultimately confirmed as hate crimes by the HCTF. The disclosure of both sets of numbers will enhance transparency and reflects best practice in connection with hate crime reporting. The NYPD previously provided data on the total number of confirmed hate crimes combined with only those reported hate crimes that had not yet been reviewed or classified by the HCTF. This new reporting paradigm represents a significant advancement in transparency.

In addition to enhancing transparency regarding hate crime activity, the NYPD is also increasing community involvement in the work of the HCTF. There is a preexisting group of community members who provide feedback to the NYPD regarding hate crime cases, but the department will be formalizing that work through a Civilian Hate Crimes Committee memorialized in department procedure. Members of the committee will review how the HCTF investigated possible hate crimes and the decision whether to classify them as confirmed hate crimes.

For the first quarter of 2026, confirmed hate crimes increased 11.7% from 2025 (143 vs 128). More than half of all confirmed hate crimes or 55% (78 out of 143), were anti-Jewish, despite Jews only making up approximately 10% of the population of New York City.

In March 2026, the HCTF confirmed 55 incidents as hate crimes out of 73 incidents that were reported as hate crimes.

Youth Safety Plan

To address youth violence, the department adjusted its strategy with School Safety Agents and increased deployments in and around schools. As a result, school-related enforcement is down 6%, and school-related crime is down 5.5% for the school year. In addition, at the start of the 2025 school year, the NYPD created Youth Safety Zones, modeled after the Violence Reduction Plan. These zones focus on the areas where young people are most at risk — commuter corridors, bus stops, and routes to and from school. Since its inception in September 2025, overall youth-related crime is down nearly 55% (134 vs. 297), shooting incidents are down 56.2% (7 vs. 16), and shooting victims are down 55.6% (8 vs. 18) in the zones during deployment hours.

Record-Breaking Safety on our Roads

The NYPD’s Transportation Bureau kept New Yorkers safe on city roads, delivering the second fewest traffic fatalities in recorded history for the first quarter. Traffic fatalities dropped by 6.7% (42 vs. 45) compared to last year. These numbers are the direct result of focused enforcement in priority corridors with the highest numbers of collisions.

*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change. *

Index Crime Statistics: Mar. 2026

	Mar. 2026	Mar. 2025	+/-	% Change
Murder	22	21	1	4.8%
Rape	185	157	28	17.8%
Robbery	1,008	1,108	-100	-9%
Felony Assault	2,431	2,468	-37	-1.5%
Burglary	861	1,009	-238	-21.7%
Grand Larceny	3,728	3,899	-171	-4.4%
Grand Larceny Auto	1,044	1,055	-11	-1.0%
TOTAL	9,279	9,807	-528	-5.4%

Index Crime Statistics: Q1 (Jan. 1 - Mar. 31)

	Q1 2026	Q1 2025	+/-	% Change
Murder	54	75	-21	-28%
Rape	523	475	48	10.1%
Robbery	2,941	3,192	-251	-7.9%
Felony Assault	6,572	6,616	-44	-0.7%
Burglary	2,587	3,259	-672	-20.6%
Grand Larceny	10,208	10,587	-379	-3.6%
Grand Larceny Auto	2,697	2,799	-102	-3.6%
TOTAL	25,582	27,003	-1,421	-5.3%

Additional Statistics: Mar. 2026

	Mar. 2026	Mar. 2025	+/-	% Change
Transit	169	218	-49	-22.5%
Housing	456	470	-14	-3%
Shooting Incidents	58	47	11	23.4%

Additional Statistics: Q1 (Jan. 1 - Mar. 31)

	Q1 2026	Q1 2025	+/-	% Change
Transit	537	544	-7	-1.3%
Housing	537	544	-7	-1.3%
Shooting Incidents	139	139	0	0%

Hate Crime Statistics: Mar. 2026

Motivation	2026 Confirmed	2025 Confirmed	+/-	% Change
Asian	1	3	-2	-66%
Black	3	4	-1	-25%
Gender	5	0	5	*****
Hispanic	3	2	1	50%
Jewish	32	36	-4	-11%
Muslim	4	2	2	100%
Other Ethnicity or National Origin	1	5	-4	-80%
Religion	4	6	-2	-33%
Sexual Orientation	2	5	-3	-60%
White	0	1	-1	-100%
Total	55	64	-9	-14.1%

(Representing Mar 1 – Mar 31 for calendar year 2026)

Motivation	Reported
Asian	1
Black	4
Gender	6
Hispanic	3
Jewish	42
Muslim	4
Other Ethnicity or National Origin	2
Religion	4
Sexual Orientation	7
Grand Total	73

Hate Crime Statistics: YTD

Motivation	2026 Confirmed	2025 Confirmed	+/-	% Change
Age	1	0	1	*****
Asian	6	5	1	20%
Black	9	9	0	0%
Gender	6	3	3	100%
Hispanic	6	3	3	100%
Jewish	78	77	1	1%
Muslim	12	5	7	140%
Other Ethnicity or National Origin	1	8	-7	-88%
Religion	13	8	5	63%
Sexual Orientation	10	8	2	25%
Total	143	128	15	11.7%

Former Member of the Air Force Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Bid Rigging Schemes and Conspiracy to Defraud U.S. Air Force

 

The Nine-Year Scheme Defrauded the Military of $37 Million for Information Technology Contracts Serving U.S. Air Force Installations Across the Pacific

A former active-duty Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force pleaded guilty yesterday to fraudulently inflating the cost of information technology (IT) contracts for the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) by at least $37 million — and using the excess funds to enrich himself, enrich co-conspirators, and channel bribes to a federal public official in PACAF whom the conspirators nicknamed “Godfather.”

The defendant, Alan Hayward James, 51, of Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to rig bids. James also agreed to pay over $1.4 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of War.

“Over thirty-seven million dollars — that’s how much the U.S. Air Force overpaid because of the scheme that the defendant admitted to, under oath and in open court.” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Criminals who rig bids and commit fraud on government contracts steal from taxpayers and threaten the public’s confidence in government institutions. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force will detect and prosecute those who rig bids and defraud their government customers.”

“Through this bid-rigging scheme, the defendant not only stole from American taxpayers and harmed companies seeking to compete honestly for government contracts, he also ultimately harmed essential military services designed to keep our nation safe by diverting resources away from other services,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “Bid-rigging and anti-competitive behavior in government contracts erodes trust in our institutions, harms taxpayers, and will not be tolerated. We will continue to investigate and prosecute any and all who would seek to manipulate markets and undermine fair competition for their own personal gain.”

“James’s guilty plea acknowledges his role in a long-running conspiracy to rig bids and defraud the U.S. government for personal financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge John E. Helsing of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Justice, will aggressively investigate those who seek to enrich themselves through fraudulent schemes targeting the U.S. Department of Defense and American taxpayers.”

“This case highlights the capabilities and strength of joint investigative efforts to defend and protect sensitive Department of War (DoW) acquisition systems,” said Special Agent Nicole Vanourek of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Procurement Fraud. “Ensuring companies adhere to robust contracting requirements is integral to maximizing the Air Force’s lethality and readiness to address evolving security challenges.”

“Bribery, bid rigging, and wire fraud are not victimless crimes; they erode public trust, distort fair competition, and harm honest businesses who play by the rules,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bjornstad of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Western Investigations Division. “GSA OIG special agents and our law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing those who engage in procurement fraud.”

According to a plea agreement and information filed in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, Hawaii, from at least April 2016 until about April 2025, James and his coconspirators falsely inflated the cost of IT contracts serving U.S. Air Force installations across the Pacific. James and his coconspirators agreed to use the excess funds to pay James, James’ family members, the family of an Air Force civilian employee, and other co-conspirators. As part of this scheme, the conspirators diverted government funds to pay for an all-expenses-paid multi-day stay at a luxury resort on the North Shore of Oahu in 2023. Also, from at least May 2019 until about October 2022, the defendant directed co-conspirators — who were supposed to be competitively bidding against one another to win government contracts — on the amounts they should bid to circumvent the competitive bidding process. As a result of the defendant’s actions, the government overpaid for IT contracts by at least $37 million.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bribery is 15 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or three times the monetary value of the bribe, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act for an individual is 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fines. James agreed to pay a restitution of at least $1,451,656.80 to the Department of War. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of DOD-OIG-DCIS, AFOSI, and GSA-OIG. Rebecca A. Bers, Don Daniel, Matthew Chou, and Albert B. Sambat of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, and Darren W.K. Ching of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, are prosecuting this case.

The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.

Attorney General James Secures Final Victory Protecting State Energy Programs

 

Federal Government Abandons Unlawful Energy Funding Policy and Drops Appeal, Preserving Final Court Ruling

New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) rescinded its unlawful policy capping reimbursement for state energy programs and agreed to dismiss its appeal, preserving states’ victory in federal court and bringing the case to a close:

“Despite skyrocketing energy costs nationwide, last year the federal government tried to slash funding for vital state-run energy programs. We went to court and won, but the administration still tried to fight us. That ends today.

“By withdrawing its policy and dropping its appeal, the federal government is finally acknowledging what the court already made clear: it cannot ignore the law to cut funding that Congress has already approved.

“This is a major victory for families in New York and across the country who rely on these programs to lower their bills, strengthen infrastructure, and prepare for extreme weather.”

After initially appealing that decision, DOE has now rescinded the policy and agreed to dismiss its appeal, ensuring that states will continue to receive full federal funding for these essential programs and bringing the litigation to a successful conclusion.

Mamdani Administration Completes $24 Million Snow Operations and Composting Facilities in Brooklyn

 

Investment strengthens winter preparedness, expands year-round composting and advances major sewer infrastructure to protect Gowanus Canal  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia and Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Gregory Anderson today announced the completion of $24 million in new snow operations and composting facilities in Gowanus, Brooklyn.  

  

Funded, designed and constructed by the DEP, the DSNY facilities make way for critical sewer infrastructure, including an underground storage tank that will intercept and store up to 4 million gallons of sewage that would otherwise flow into the Gowanus Canal during rainstorms.  

  

The 7,600-square-foot snow operations facility can store 6 million pounds of road salt — a first line of defense against dangerous conditions. Salt slows snow accumulation, improves plowing and helps keep New Yorkers moving safely during winter storms.  

  

Built to support that capacity, the facility includes a reinforced underground support structure to distribute the weight, as well as storage for up to 75 plow blades and brine tanks. Rooftop solar panels generate 79,600 watts of renewable energy to power lighting and equipment on-site. 

Area served by DSNY Gowanus Snow Operations Facility  

The composting facility, operated by Big Reuse, can process 600,000 pounds of food scraps, yard waste and wood chips each year, turning waste into a resource for New York City communities.  

  

“There’s no better way to close out a tough winter than by opening a facility capable of storing six million pounds of road salt and 75 plow blades,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This is what public service looks like: the year-round, often unseen labor of City workers who make our streets safer and our environment healthier. Through collaboration between DEP and DSNY, this site offers a laundry list of public goods, from rooftop solar panels to a composting facility that can process 600,000 pounds of waste each year.”  

  

“Built by DEP, DSNY's new snow and composting facilities are public excellence at work, showing what is possible when city agencies collaborate efficiently and effectively,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “These facilities will ensure our neighbors in Brooklyn are prepared for the next blizzard while advancing our work to reduce pollution in our waterways and expand composting citywide.”  

  

“Every season now tests our resilience, and New York City is meeting that challenge with smart, climate ready investments,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “The new snow operations facility will ensure Brooklynites are protected before, during and after snowstorms and extreme cold like we saw in February, while renewed composting operations in the Gowanus community will help curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Also, once complete, the new wastewater infrastructure will significantly reduce sewer overflows into the Gowanus Canal, protecting the waterway against more frequent rainstorms.”  

  

“Expanded composting capacity and a new crown-jewel of snow operations mean that New Yorkers will have safer streets and greener gardens,” said Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson. “From the beginning, we were clear that cleaning up the Gowanus Canal could not come at the expense of critical Sanitation services. DEP heard this message, and they delivered. I am proud to cut this ribbon alongside so many partners and advocates today.”  

  

The design of the snow operations facility reflects Gowanus’ industrial character, incorporating sculptural concrete and textured metal. The project followed extensive public engagement to ensure it aligns with the neighborhood’s history and community priorities.  

  

Construction was sequenced to maintain uninterrupted winter service during the 2024-25 season using a temporary salt storage facility. Since the facility’s completion in January, sanitation crews have continued to deliver seamless, reliable service through one of the largest snowstorms in recent history.  

  

Completed facilities viewed from the Gowanus Canal’s 6th Street Turning Basin

  

Completed snow operations facility 

The project clears the way for the Owls Head Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) Facility, part of the Superfund cleanup of the Gowanus Canal. The facility includes a 4‑million‑gallon underground tank and support systems to capture and manage storm-related overflows. DEP recently completed deep underground perimeter walls for the tank, with excavation set to begin this spring.   

  

Future phases will restore Gowanus Canal Conservancy’s public education outpost and construct two acres of waterfront open space, including restored tidal wetlands and a kayak launch, designed by SCAPE Landscape Architects.   

  

A second project, the Red Hook CSO Facility, will add another 8 million gallons of storage capacity. Together, the two systems will capture up to 12 million gallons of combined sewage overflow during storms — a major step toward reducing pollution in the Gowanus Canal and strengthening neighborhood resilience.