Philadelphia on track for lowest yearly homicide total in 50 years, officials say
Philadelphia is set to end 2025 with the lowest number of homicides in over 50 years, officials said Wednesday.
On Dec. 31, data on Philadelphia police's website showed the city had 220 homicides in 2025, a decrease of about 18% from the prior year's 269.
The total for 2025, while not final, would be the the lowest since 1967, data from Pew Research Center shows. That year, there were 234 homicides, according to the data.
In the past five decades, Philly has never had a year with a homicide total below 1967's. The closest Philly came was in 2013, when there were 247 killings.
District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a news conference that the record was "remarkable, but that is not the only thing that is remarkable."
In addition to homicides, violent crimes and property crimes are down in 2025 compared to 2024. Total violent crime is down 9.34% and property crime is down 8.42%, he said.
The total number of shooting incidents is also down 28%, from 1162 in 2024 to 826 as of Dec. 30.
Krasner credited community leaders including coaches, clergy and mentors who have helped steer young people away from guns. The Philadelphia Police Department's work to establish the Shooting Investigation Group was another huge factor in the reduction, he said.
"What a great idea to go from generalist detectives to specialized detectives whose job it is to work all the time on a horrific crime, which is the shooting of another human being," Krasner said.
Officials warn against celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve
Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Winton Singletary urged residents not to celebrate the arrival of 2026 by firing their guns in the air. Celebratory gunfire is hazardous and can cause injuries or death, they noted.
"Just remember, whatever you fire up, comes down somewhere," Chief Inspector Winton Singletary said. "We will have people out there to arrest folks out here doing that."
Singletary also urged revelers not to drink and drive, something that could also end in tragedy.
City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. added further to the message to stay safe.
"We should celebrate, but celebrate responsibly," Jones said. "You do not want to be the last person to commit a homicide in 2025... 220 families experienced homicide last year. That is down significantly from about two years ago... but that's 220 too many," Jones said.
Philadelphia will host a major New Year's Eve celebration on the Ben Franklin Parkway with fireworks following a concert from LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone, Dorothy and Technician the DJ.