In 2023, Indianapolis recorded 219 homicides showing another decrease from years prior.
It was the second straight year the city say a decrease, but was the fourth year in a row police have investigated more than 200 homicides.
Here's a look at the 2024 homicide data for Marion County.
While the city is making progress, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor stresses this modest decline from a staggering high isn't reason to celebrate.
"We know that each one of those lives represents a soul," Taylor said. "It represents someone's brother, sister, son, daughter, whatever. Someone that's important to somebody and those numbers have got to come down."
Officials believe the violence is driven by societal problems including poverty, lack of housing, lack of education and poor parenting.
"Those kinds of things certainly play a factor," Taylor said. "But we all know people who have come up and didn't have a whole lot of money, didn't have a great education, didn't have a lot of things going for them. It doesn't mean they turn around and commit violent acts of crime."
-
Woman injured in shooting on east side of Indianapolis
According to IMPD, while officers were patrolling the area and working on another investigation near the 4000 block of E. Michigan Street, they were flagged down about shots fired.Tens of thousands celebrate at downtown Indy’s third annual Fourth Fest
The free, family-friendly event featured food trucks, live music, kids' activities and a 20-minute fireworks display launched from the 500 N Meridian building.Mass shooting downtown kills 2, injures 5 following 4th of July celebrations
Seven people were shot in a mass shooting event in downtown Indianapolis that claimed the lives of two juveniles, early Saturday morning, according to IMPD.Deadly crash on 1-70 near downtown
Indiana State Police is investigating a deadly crash on 1-70 involving a semi tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle on Friday.