BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Brooklyn recorded just two homicides in July, tying the lowest monthly total on record before the borough went 29 consecutive days without a murder, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
The 29-day stretch began after homicides on July 1 and July 2 and continued until a woman was found dead in a suspected domestic incident Aug. 1. Prosecutors described it as the longest murder-free period in Brooklyn’s modern recorded history, surpassing a previous 24-day record set in October 2016.
The milestone comes amid a broader decline in violence. Through the period covered by the report, homicides were down 37% in Brooklyn compared with the same point last year, while shooting incidents had fallen 16%, according to figures based largely on NYPD CompStat data.
- Brooklyn recorded only two homicides in July, matching the record low set in January.
- The borough went 29 consecutive days without a murder, breaking the previous 24-day record from October 2016.
- Homicides were down 37% and shooting incidents were down 16% so far in 2026, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Brooklyn’s 29-Day Murder-Free Streak Sets Record
The July numbers stand out in part because they came during summer, a period that has historically seen higher levels of violent crime.
There was one homicide July 1 and another July 2, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Brooklyn then went the remainder of the month without another killing.
The streak ended Aug. 1 when a woman was found dead in what authorities described as a suspected domestic incident.
The only other month on record with two homicides was January of this year, according to prosecutors. December 2025 and February 2026 each recorded three.
“For New York City’s most populous borough to go 29 consecutive days without a murder, during the summer months when violence has historically been at its highest, is an extraordinary achievement that would have been almost unimaginable just a few years ago,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.
The District Attorney’s Office noted that its monthly record calculation excludes homicides reclassified from previous years. Its broader year-to-date statistics rely on NYPD CompStat figures that include two additional reclassified murders.
Brooklyn Accounts for Large Share of Citywide Shooting Decline
The improvement extends beyond the July homicide count.
Brooklyn recorded 22 fewer homicides through the reporting period than it had at the same point last year. According to the District Attorney’s Office, that reduction accounted for 47% of New York City’s overall year-to-date decrease in homicides.
Shooting incidents were down by 24 in Brooklyn, representing 85% of the citywide decline in shootings through that point in the year.
Other major crime categories also showed decreases. Burglaries were down 14%, grand larceny auto was down 12.5%, and robberies declined 10%, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Reported hate crimes fell by more than 21%.
Reported rape was the exception among the major crime categories cited by prosecutors and was not reported as declining.
Gonzalez attributed the broader trend to a combination of enforcement, prosecutions, community involvement and violence-prevention programs.
“Brooklyn is experiencing a genuine public safety renaissance, driven by focused enforcement, strong prosecutions, community partnership and sustained investments in preventing violence before it occurs,” Gonzalez said.
Prosecutors Point to Stop Violence Strategy
The District Attorney’s Office said its Stop Violence strategy combines criminal investigations and prosecutions with prevention and community-based programs.
The initiative focuses resources on people believed to be responsible for serious violence while pursuing longer-term gang and firearms-trafficking investigations.
Other components include technology investments, increased attention to gun prosecutions, youth engagement, community partnerships, outreach and alternative and preventive programs.
“We are proud of this progress, and we remain determined to bring the same safety and stability to every neighborhood in Brooklyn,” Gonzalez said.
The historic July figures provide a snapshot rather than a guarantee that the trend will continue. Still, the year-to-date reductions in homicides and shootings indicate the record month occurred amid a broader decline in serious violence across the borough.
How many murders were recorded in Brooklyn in July 2026?
Two homicides occurred during July, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, tying January 2026 for the lowest monthly total on record.
How long did Brooklyn go without a murder?
Brooklyn went 29 consecutive days without a homicide after killings on July 1 and July 2. The streak ended with a suspected domestic homicide Aug. 1.
Are shootings also declining in Brooklyn?
Yes. Shooting incidents were down 16% year to date, while homicides were down 37%, according to figures released by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Sources: Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Aug. 4 crime statistics announcement; NYPD CompStat; Brooklyn DA Stop Violence strategy.
