The number of homicides and other violent crimes in Los Angeles in 2024 dropped for the second consecutive year, officials said at a Monday, March 17, press conference, with the police chief saying he was hopeful the downward momentum would continue.
“We’re optimistic that we’ll continue the trend were seeing,” Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.
Homicides slid by 14%, to 284, while shootings plummeted by 19% — which police attributed to the removal of 7,634 firearms held illegally, including 790 so-called ghost guns that are pieced together with kits or parts and don’t carry required serial numbers.
Aggravated assaults — when someone attacks another intending great harm — went down by 12 percent over the previous year.
The number of robberies declined slightly.
“If you’re a crime victim, these statistics don’t necessarily represent your experience, and we must continue to approach the issue,” Mayor Karen Bass said. “We will continue to do everything possible to keep you safe.”
Like many police agencies, hiring qualified officers and keeping them on the force has become a problem.
Chief McDonnell said overcoming this troublesome hurdle was “essential.” He noted that the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Summer Olympics will play out at least in part in Los Angeles County.
Mayor Bass said the city has made key improvements toward increased police staffing, with recruitment up in “record numbers,” but she added that the city has continued to struggle with streamlining the hiring process.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.