2024 Sees Fewer Murders in Massachusetts, Officials Report

I don't want to make you overconfident about your chances of survival; after all, we all have to go somewhere, at some time or another. None of us gets out alive. My preferred method of slipping into the night would be to do just that, slip away into the night while soundly sleeping.

However, the Rolling Stones taught us that "You can't always get what you want." Last year, over 100 people in Massachusetts left the planet violently, and at the hands of another.

While that sounds horrible – and it certainly is – there is some comfort in knowing that homicides are declining in Massachusetts.

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How Many Homicides Happened in 2024?

Preliminary statistics for 2024 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security indicate, "Homicides decreased by 11.4% with 132 reported incidents." The department says, "This figure is below the five-year average of 146."

How Does 2024 Compare to Previous Years?

In 2023, there were 149 reported incidents of murder and non-negligent homicide in Massachusetts.

"While this 2024 data offers an encouraging snapshot-in-time, it also reinforces the importance of staying focused and coordinated in our efforts to reduce crime," said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy.

Gun Violence Still Drives Concern

"While Massachusetts has the second-lowest gun death rate in the country, gun homicides account for a significant portion of overall homicides, representing 42 percent of all gun deaths in 2022," according to the Commonwealth.

All of the preliminary crime statistics collected by local police departments in Massachusetts have been submitted to the FBI, which will release its annual report on crime in the United States and the individual states sometime in September.