Minneapolis sees drop in gun-related violence so far this year

MSR News Service

ccording to the Minneapolis Police Department, the month of May saw the lowest recorded number of gunshot victims over the past four years.

“Violent crime is dropping and the fact that shootings are even below pre-pandemic levels underscores that what we are doing is working,” said Mayor Jacob Frey in a press release. “It’s not easy to combat the gun violence epidemic we are seeing in Minneapolis and across the nation. But our officers and law enforcement partners have been doing incredible work to get a record number of guns off the street.”

The citywide crime data report issued on June 5, reflects the overall decrease in violent crime in Minneapolis this year, with 75 fewer gunshot-wound victims compared to last year, and 104 fewer gunshot-wound victims compared to the same time in 2021.The data reflects the continued drop in the number of Minneapolis residents who become victims of gun violence, based on the report.

In addition, Minneapolis police officers confiscated 1,100 illegal guns in 2022, setting a department record despite the shortage of officers. Police reports show that so far, 461 guns have been confiscated in 2023, a 16 percent improvement over last year’s record pace.

However, not all the citywide crime data was favorable. Not surprisingly, auto thefts, and to a lesser extent, property vandalism were higher than in previous years. The recorded number of auto thefts citywide through May was more than twice the number over the same period last year. With nearly 4,000 stolen cars so far in 2023, that number far exceeds the previous three-year average of 1,745. Not nearly as troubling as auto thefts, so far this year the increase in property vandalism is up by almost 33 percent. The increase in auto thefts may be related to the failure of manufacturers to install anti-theft devices in islation in the U.S. that they helped pass despite their international focus.

Perry Moriearty, a professor of criminal law and juvenile justice, has been working on these reforms in Minnesota for the past decade, helping craft bills year after year. She has now finally seen those efforts

■ See MORIARTY on page 5