Tisch: Over 2,000 guns removed from NYC streets in 2026 as shootings hit record lows
Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that the department has seized 2,109 illegal guns so far in 2026.
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As the city reports historic declines in shootings and murders, the NYPD says removing illegal firearms from the streets is a key factor driving the drop in violence across all five boroughs.
Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that the department has seized 2,109 illegal guns so far in 2026. That includes 590 guns in Brooklyn, 516 in Manhattan, 496 in the Bronx, 392 in Queens and 115 on Staten Island.
The department says these enforcement efforts are helping produce historic results. Through the first five months of the year, New York City has seen the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims and murders in recorded history. In May alone, the city recorded the lowest number of shootings and victims ever for that month, alongside record lows in public housing developments.
Police officials credit those gains to precision policing, gang takedowns and close coordination with local district attorneys.
"Let me be clear… we are not letting up. Because the NYPD is in the business of saving lives," said Tisch
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark pointed to a recent case highlighting ongoing concerns about youth gun violence. In February, 16-year-old Christopher Redding was fatally shot in Kingsbridge, near Broadway and West 238th Street. Two other teenagers were injured in the incident. Three youths have since been indicted in connection with that shooting.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez detailed a major gang investigation centered in Coney Island. Authorities charged 15 alleged gang members in connection with 16 separate shootings, including one fatality and injuries to four bystanders.
“Brooklyn had a record year - the lowest crime rate we ever had and it’s something we can’t take for granted,” Gonzalez said.
The NYPD also points to its summer violence reduction plan as another factor contributing to the decline. The initiative deploys thousands of officers to high-crime areas across the city and is already showing signs of success, with major crime down nearly 28% in those zones since May.
As the city enters the summer months, officials say they remain focused on sustaining the downward trend while continuing to target illegal guns and the networks responsible for gun violence.
