Detroit homicides drop below 200 for the first time since 1965, city says

(WXYZ) — Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield was joined by city and community leaders to announce another historic drop in violent crime for 2025 on Wednesday.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report:

According to city statistics, there were 165 homicides in the City of Detroit last year, which is the fewest number of homicides in six decades, a 19% drop from the 203 recorded in 2024 and down 35% from 252 in 2023. The last time that number was below 200 was in 1965, when there were 188 homicides.

Hear more from Bettison and Sheffield in the video below

"While we have made progress, we know the work is far from over. One life lost is too many," Sheffield said during the press conference. "Public safety will remain a priority of this administration. We will build on the foundation of the programs and strategies that are working."

When looking back 60 years ago, Detroit's population was more than double what it is today. According to the city, the latest U.S. Census report released in May 2025 found Detroit's population estimate at nearly 646,000. Detroit's population as of the 1960 Census was 1.67 million, and the 1970 Census was 1.51 million people.

Late in 2025, former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan held a press conference with Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettision, announcing that homicides had dropped 15% during the third quarter of 2025.

Watch our one-on-one interview with Police Chief Todd Bettison:

"What we're doing in Detroit is working," Bettison said during the press conference.

You can watch the full press conference below:

According to the city, preliminary numbers also show that Detroit ended the year with 447 non-fatal shootings – a 26% drop from the previous year and a 62% reduction from 1,176 in 2020. Carjackings dropped 46% to 77 from the 142 recorded in 2024. The city says carjackings have been reduced 84% since 2015. 

The city’s overall crime showed a reduction in all major categories, including a 10% drop in overall violent crime and a 10% drop in property crime.  

7 News Detroit spoke with several Detroiters to see how the numbers compared to their day-to-day experiences.

“I think they doing a pretty good job with that ShotSpotter. They be on it in 5 minutes," resident Gina Kennie said.

She said she's seen the police response in her neighborhood after a non-fatal shooting.

“I was like 'wooh, they serious. They moving,'" Kennie said.

Resident Larry McCaskill said, “It’s hard to say because there’s so much going on. So, I don’t know man. It don’t seem down to me. I put it like that.”

So what does it take to change that perception, as well as keeping the downtrend headed in the right direction?

Zoe Kennedy, of FORCE Detroit said, “The work that we do is trauma-informed. So we wanna introduce the community to therapy to expose them to healing.”

Resident Marcia Spivey told 7 News Detroit, "I think that making sure we are passing the torch (is an approach), and I think that engaging the youth, asking them that same question. How do you feel? Let’s talk to you all, middle school (and) high school. The city is saying that crime rates are dropping. What’s your experience?”

Below are the 2025, 2024 and 2023 Detroit crime statistics