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Crime statistics show third lowest number of shooting incidents in 20 years; 21% reduction in overall Part 1 crimes

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Chief of Police Wilfredo Campos today released the Wilmington Police Department’s 2024 Year-End Report, which includes crime statistics for the past year along with data and details about the department’s operations and community initiatives. 

You can review the department’s 2024 Year-End Report, which includes the year-end CompStat report, here.
 
Crime data reveal a 21% reduction in overall Part 1 crime in 2024 compared with 2023, as well as a decrease in shooting incidents. There were 81 shooting incidents in 2024, compared with 91 in 2023. Notably, last year saw the third lowest number of shootings in the past 20 years, with lower numbers only in 2018 (72 incidents) and 2005 (76 incidents).
 
There was an increase in murders in 2024 – with 24 incidents compared with 14 in the year prior. This reflects a 31% decrease in the number of murders reported in 2017 – 35 total incidents – in the first year of this administration. Of those 24 incidents, 17 murders were by gunfire while 2 were the result of stabbings and 5 were the result of assaults or strangulation. This represents a significant increase in the number of non-shooting related murders and an increase in isolated incidents prompting these crimes. So far, WPD investigators have made arrests in connection with 13 of the murders that took place in 2024, and they are hopeful for arrests in additional cases in the coming months. That is in addition to arrests made last year in connection with 10 murders that took place in prior years.
 
Similar to 2023, in 2024 our investigators observed a continued trend of increased isolated incidents leading to shootings and murders, and a sustained reduction in group-related violence. When accounting for all shooting incidents and murders in 2024:

• 28% of incidents could be described as ‘isolated incidents,’ with 5 being domestic-related and 20 being related to altercations or other isolated causes
• 7% of incidents are believed to have been related to narcotics or robberies
• 23% of incidents are believed to have been related to group violence
• The motive in connection with the remaining 42% of incidents remains under investigation

“We are proud to share crime data for the past year, and to highlight continued reductions in major crime categories and enhancements to public safety in Wilmington,” said Chief Campos. “While we have reported an increase in murders in 2024 compared with the year prior, detectives have already made arrests in more than a dozen of those cases, and we continue to follow up on leads to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the other incidents.”
 
Chief Campos continued, “Our report also includes details on a number of key initiatives launched in the past year, including our Partners in Care Co-Responder Program and our new Wellness Program. We look forward to making further progress in 2025.”
 
“As the final annual crime report from my Administration is issued today, I reiterate how proud I am to have served for the past eight years with one of the finest police departments in the country,” said Mayor Purzycki. “The annual statistics we have released through the years are very encouraging and show continual improvement in policing and community relations. This effort began under Chief Robert Tracy in 2017 and has continued without interruption under Chief Campos. In addition to concentrating on reducing crime, the Wilmington Police Department has expanded its efforts to interact and communicate with the public. The WPD has launched several efforts in this regard including the Partners in Care co-responder program with ChristianaCare, which served more than 300 individuals and families this year; establishing a Police Community Engagement Unit; organizing and hosting monthly Community Resource Fairs; organizing and conducting nearly 100 weekly Community Outreach Walks over the past two years and organizing monthly Coffee with a Cop programs. The Department has also launched a new Wellness Program to support police officers and civilian staff as well as police retirees and their families. How could we not be proud of these efforts at improving policing in Wilmington and making our City safer for all?”