09/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2024 07:23
Newly released crime data for August 2024 shows that the City of St. Louis continues to successfully decrease the amount of crime in the City.
Newly released crime data for August 2024 shows that the City of St. Louis continues to successfully decrease the amount of crime, including homicides, occurring in the City.
Through August 31, the City of St. Louis saw 106 homicides in 2024, down from 109 at this time in 2023, 136 at this time in 2022, 123 at this time in 2021, and 183 at this time in 2020.
"Every life lost to gun violence is one too many, and we have to keep working to bring these numbers down further," said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. "I am incredibly proud of the work done by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Office of Violence Prevention, and other City departments and community partners to improve our performance on prevention, intervention, and enforcement."
The City of St. Louis has seen a decrease in homicides every year during the Jones administration, which began in 2021. The number of homicides per year has decreased by nearly 40% since Mayor Jones took office.
The 160 homicides in 2023 was the lowest number St. Louis had seen since 2014, which had 159 homicides, and the City continues to be on the right course. In August 2024, St. Louis saw 10 homicides, three fewer than in August 2023.
The decrease in crime in St. Louis is not limited to homicides. Compared to August 2023, the City saw a decrease of 2.2% in violent crimes more broadly, a decrease of 12.6% in property crime, and a decrease of 6.3% in crimes against society (narcotic violations, weapon law violations, trespassing, etc.) in August of this year.
Not only are fewer crimes being committed in St. Louis; the SLMPD's clearance rate for murder investigations has risen and is now well above the national average of 52.3%, with the SLMPD clearing 75% of homicides in 2023 and 66% so far in 2024, up from 51% in 2020.