MINNEAPOLIS — There's no question the numbers are not nearly as low as they were four or five years ago, but compared to 2021 in Minneapolis, shootings were down 8%, gunshot victims were down 17% and carjackings were down 20 percent.
The year 2022 came to a close in Minneapolis with 81 homicides, according to Minneapolis police crime statistics, compared to 93 in 2021 and 84 in 2020.
It's still significantly higher than the 48 homicides reported in 2019, but Bishop Richard Howell from the Shiloh Temple in north Minneapolis says he can feel progress.
"Without question, there is a feeling that things are improving," Howell said.
The slight reduction in homicides reflects a nationwide trend -- although Saint Paul recorded a record number of 40 in 2022, compared to 38 in 2021.
In Minneapolis, there have been a lot of changes over the last year, including organizational moves at MPD, joint task force operations in the city and an increase in "violence interrupter" groups on the streets.
Bishop Howell points to two things in his community -- a church buying a problem gas station, and the Attorney General pursuing action against a liquor store that was often the scene of gun violence.
"I think everyone in this community who are great citizens are binding together to see our community return to us in the way it should be," Howell said.
North Minneapolis' 4th Precinct saw a 29% drop in homicides last year -- second only to the 3rd Precinct in south Minneapolis, where the bulk of the unrest following the murder of George Floyd occurred.
Bishop Howell says he's optimistic for his community, as well as the entire city in 2023.
"Does it remain to be seen? Yeah, I think the judge and jury is still out on that, but personally, I'm feeling pretty confident that thank God, I don't think we're going to see a repeat of what we've seen in those earlier years," Howell said.
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