Crime in Minneapolis 2025: Gun Violence Drops, But Remains a Citywide Concern
Minneapolis, MN (MinnesotaNow) — Minneapolis has built a bit of a reputation as a dangerous city in recent years. People outside the city and in other states often picture shootings, boarded-up businesses, and high crime. That reputation isn’t completely fair, but it’s not totally off base either.
According to U.S. News & World Report’s list of the Most Dangerous Places in the U.S., Minneapolis ranks 25th. It’s nowhere near the top cities for violent crime like Memphis, Baltimore, or St. Louis, but perceptions hold weight. Many people, both inside and outside the city, initially perceive Minneapolis as dangerous before seeing it as a home, a place of art, or a thriving urban hub.
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So what’s the real story in 2025? Data from the Minneapolis Police Department suggests things might be improving, especially when it comes to gun violence. Overall, crime is down, and gun violence has dropped compared to last year. But the numbers also show shootings are still a big problem across the city.
Minneapolis Homicides Down in 2025
According to the Minneapolis Police Department’s official crime dashboard, there have been 51 non-negligent homicides in the city so far this year, which is down from 60 in 2024. Gun-related violence is also showing improvement, with 258 gunshot wound victims recorded through early October, compared to 306 last year and 357 the year before.
That’s nearly a 16% decrease in shooting victims year over year, continuing a trend of steady declines since gun crime peaked during the pandemic years.
Gunshot Victims and “Shots Fired” Calls Continue to Fall
As of October 7, 2025, Minneapolis Police have responded to 3,846 “shots fired” calls so far this year. That number is down from 4,796 last year and well below the three-year average of 5,778.
While “shots fired” calls can include everything from confirmed shootings to ShotSpotter activations, the downward trend is a good sign that gun activity across the city is heading in the right direction.
Weekend Shootings Still Common Across Minneapolis
The city’s data shows that weekends are when most gunfire happens. Saturday (644 calls) and Sunday (650 calls) have the highest numbers so far this year. Police say this pattern has remained consistent for several years, often coinciding with warmer weather, weekend gatherings, and late-night activity.
The crime dashboard also includes a breakdown of shootings by precinct, and historical data shows the 3rd and 4th Precincts, which include parts of South and North Minneapolis, continue to see a larger share of gun incidents compared to other areas.
Violent Crime Declines Across Multiple Categories
Gun crime isn’t the only area showing improvement.
- Robberies are down to 841, compared to 1,244 last year.
- Motor vehicle thefts fell to 3,844, down from 5,313 in 2024.
- Weapon law violations dropped nearly 17%, from 944 to 783.
Citywide, violent crimes like assault and robbery are down compared to both last year and the three-year average, showing that Minneapolis is starting to see steady progress after a few tough years.
City Leaders Say Crime Prevention Efforts Are Working
Even with the good news, city leaders say there’s still work to do. 51 homicides in ten months is still too many, and every one of those represents a family that’s been forever changed.
Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara, have credited community-based violence prevention programs, expanded patrols, and targeted gun enforcement initiatives with helping curb violence. But they continue to emphasize the need for long-term strategies addressing root causes from youth intervention to illegal gun trafficking.
"We worked with our US attorney, we embedded in Minneapolis police, we arrested some of the bad guys..." Mayor Frey said while riding a bike down the street in a video posted to his Facebook page. "But we did that by working with grandmas, working with moms, working with community members to make sure we were stopping some of these violent acts before they took place," Frey continued.
Minneapolis on Track for Lowest Gun Violence in Five Years
With a couple of months left in the year, Minneapolis is on track to finish 2025 with the fewest shooting victims and shots-fired calls since before 2020.
There’s still a long way to go, but the numbers suggest the city is moving in the right direction, and that’s something everyone can feel hopeful about.
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