New York City officials say that there will be a record low number of murders and shootings in the city in 2012.
As of Friday morning, there have been 414 homicides in 2012 - the previous record low was 471 homicides in 2009.
The number of murders has dropped by 19 percent in comparison to 2011.
There has been a record low 1,353 shootings this year - the previous low for shootings was 1,420 in 2009. Shootings have decreased by 8.5 percent so far this year compared to 2011 and 14.5 percent since 2001.
Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly released the statistics today at the police department recruit graduation ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
"The number of murders this year will be lower than any time in recorded city history," said Mayor Bloomberg.
The city credits putting more police in high crime areas as a reason for the decline.
City murder statistics date back to 1963 when the city recorded 548 homicides. The most murders New York City recorded in a single year was 2,245 in 1990.
Guns remained the leading cause of murder but they are down 20 percent.
City officials say that if New York City had Chicago's murder rate, New York City would have a total of more than 1,400 murders this year. Chicago marked its 500th murder of the year this week.
If New York City had Detroit's murder rate, New York City would have nearly 4,400 murders this year.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:33 GMT
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:03 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:03:36 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:29 AM EDT2013-05-24 10:29:05 GMT
AP photo
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:17:32 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
