Both Minneapolis and St. Paul are expected to end the year with fewer homicides than the prior year, according to police data.
The dip in homicides in St. Paul has been the most impressive. After six consecutive years with homicide numbers in the thirties, St. Paul is poised to have fewer than 20 homicides in 2025. As of Friday, 15 people had been killed in acts of violence across St. Paul in 2025, down from 33 last year. Despite being encouraged by the significant decrease, St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry said there was still work to be done.
“I’m very hesitant to say any of this is good news. I’m never going to be happy until the number is zero,” said Henry.
St. Paul started off 2024 on the right foot, with no homicides for nearly the first two months. Moreover, the first homicide by gun violence didn’t happen until May 28.
Nonfatal shootings are also down significantly across St. Paul in 2025. As of last Monday, 73 people had been injured in shootings in St. Paul in 2025, down from 181 just three years ago in 2022.
Minneapolis Follows Suit
Minneapolis also experienced a downturn in homicides in 2025. Through Friday, there had been 63 reported homicide cases in Minneapolis in 2025, down from 76 through the same point in 2024, which represents a 17 percent decrease.
Police said a big emphasis this year has been on committing more resources to solving nonfatal assaults and shootings. The clearance rate for nonfatal shootings had been 28 percent in 2022, but that rose to 61 percent in 2025. Police say that identifying these bad actors can help stop gun violence before it becomes deadly.
“When we start to go and intervene at that level, we’re catching people or plugging them in with resources before they’ve completed a murder,” said Henry.
It’s wonderful that gun violence is trending the right direction in the Twin Cities and across the US. One rash decision can change so many lives, so it’s great to see that homicide numbers have fallen so drastically. There’s still plenty of work to do, but anytime violent crimes numbers are tending downward, it’s a win.
Have a great end of 2025, and if you or someone you know ends up in need of legal assistance, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm. Give us a call today at (952) 224-2277.
