Decrease in gun violence in the city of York

YORK, Pa. (WHTM) — For the first time in over a year, City of York officials say gun violence statistics are trending in the right direction.

There have been zero homicides since early 2023, according to the York City Police Department. By this time last year there had already been two. By December, that number had risen to 22, the highest the city has ever recorded.

“Nationwide these numbers [were] up, it wasn’t just a York City thing, said Tiffany Lowe, project director of Group Violence Intervention.

Only one shooting – which took place on January 1 – has been recorded in the city of York so far this year, according to the city’s police department.

Officials attribute the low numbers this year to a 2016 program known as Group Violence Intervention.

“We’re a group of individuals — like service providers, law enforcement officers — and we come together and we find preemptive ways to stop the violence,” Lowe said. “[Things like] ‘What can we do to support you so you don’t go to jail?’”

Lowe said she’s confident the shootings will shrink as the program grows.