The number of homicides in Boston has seen a significant increase in 2025, with urban officials highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures as summer approaches.
So far this year, there have been 14 homicides in the city, compared to just six in the same period of 2024.
City officials, including Mayor Michelle Wu, gathered recently to outline plans aimed at maintaining safety during the summer months when crime tends to spike due to longer daylight hours, increased city activity, and more interactions among residents and tourists.
“In the last three years, we’ve really been focused on responding not just after something horribly tragic has happened and figuring out what we can do, how we can support, how we can try not to repeat, but to have that same level of vigilance… all throughout the year,” Wu stated during a press conference in Dorchester.
Despite the alarming figures, law enforcement officials argue that the current spike in homicides does not indicate a crisis.
They point out that last year’s homicide numbers were unusually low, and even with the increase, Boston continues to rank as one of the safest major cities in the country for 2025.
“Our focus is to work ever closer and harder with our law enforcement and community partners no matter if crime trends move up or down,” said Suffolk County District Attorney spokesperson James Borghesani.
He noted that while variances in crime rates are expected each year, the overarching goal is to keep Boston’s homicide and overall crime rate low compared to the city’s historical figures.
As summer approaches, concerns linger about how this year will unfold, especially since a third of the city’s gun violence has historically occurred during this season.
Looking back at previous years, Boston witnessed one of the safest years last December, with city officials reporting only 24 homicides throughout 2024, the lowest number since 1957.
In contrast, 37 homicides were reported in 2023, with 40 in both 2022 and 2021, and even 56 homicides were recorded in 2020.
Mayor Wu reflected on these figures while emphasizing the community’s responsibility in maintaining safety, urging collaboration across leadership to address violence effectively.
Their strategy has included focused efforts on police recruitment and retention, coordination with local organizations, and improved communication among departments regarding crime statistics and response.
Currently, out of the 14 reported homicides this year, 10 were committed via gunfire, with victim ages ranging from 18 to 77 years.
Tragically, the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan have historically accounted for around 70% of homicides in the city over the past decade, according to a Northeastern University report in conjunction with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.
Roxbury has already recorded the highest number of homicides with five reported this year, a sharp increase from just one at this same time last year, while Mattapan follows with four homicides, slightly up from three in 2024.
Dorchester has maintained its rate, reporting one homicide this year, the same as the previous year.
Notable incidents include the killings of 18-year-old Leroy Ryner in Mattapan and 20-year-old Kareem Daveiga-Booth in Dorchester, with no arrests made in these cases as of yet.
Additionally, the report highlighted concerns raised by some homicide survivors about the relationship between Boston police and Black residents, suggesting past racial issues may have hindered trust and affected the resolution of cases.
In Charlestown, two homicides were recorded, a noteworthy rise from none reported halfway through 2024.
The victims were identified as Joseph Donahue, 46, and Joseph Donohue, 65, who were killed within a month of each other in early 2025, with two suspects charged in their respective cases.
While some neighborhoods such as Allston and Jamaica Plain previously reported no homicides during this period in 2024, each has one homicide recorded as of now in 2025.
Boston’s overall crime rates remain lower than those in several major U.S. cities.
According to a January report by Forbes, Boston was ranked 15th nationally for safety, considering several violent crime factors aside from just homicide rates.
In comparison, cities with similar populations like Milwaukee, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Memphis are all currently experiencing significantly higher homicide rates.
Milwaukee has reported 56 homicides, Baltimore logged 59, Washington, D.C. sees 75, and Memphis has tragically recorded 90 homicides as of mid-May 2025.
Despite these challenges, Boston officials continue to prioritize public safety, responding to community concerns about increased crime like shoplifting and urban blight.
This spring, specific areas such as Downtown Crossing underwent rapid changes to address urgent safety threats raised by local residents and business owners.
With summer traditionally seeing heightened gun violence — for instance, last summer recorded 64 shootings — city leaders are under pressure to keep homicide rates down.
Officials announced plans to concentrate police presence in historically troubled areas and foster relationships with residents to address community issues.
Commissioner Michael Cox highlighted the importance of officers being regular fixtures in communities to build trust and foster communication.
“They’re there to listen and make sure we address the problems in your community that you may be having,” Cox emphasized.
As the city navigates these challenges, the commitment from law enforcement and city officials to prioritize community outreach and maintain safety remains paramount.
image source from：https://www.masslive.com/boston/2025/06/boston-saw-its-lowest-homicide-rate-in-over-60-years-can-the-trend-continue.html
