Homicides in Detroit fell sharply last year, totaling 252 cases. Police recovered over 8,500 illegal firearms in the same period, underscoring the city's persistent gun violence crisis alongside this progress.
Key Takeaways
- Detroit recorded 252 homicides in 2023
- The 252 homicides in 2023 represent an 18% decrease compared to 2022
- Detroit saw 804 non-fatal shootings in 2023
- Arrests for domestic violence offenses rose 7% in 2022
- Juvenile arrests for violent crimes dropped 12% in 2023
- Domestic violence reports totaled 15,200 in 2022
- Detroit's ShotSpotter technology detected 32,000 gunfire incidents in 2022
- The average police response time to Priority 1 calls was 12 minutes in 2023
- Detroit Police Department operates with 2,500 active officers as of 2023
- Motor vehicle thefts increased by 9% in 2023, totaling 10,400 incidents
- Over 35,000 total property crimes were reported in 2023
- Larceny-theft incidents accounted for 14,000 reports in 2022
- There were 618 carjackings reported in 2022
- Carjackings dropped 34% in 2023 with 408 incidents
- The total number of violent crimes reported in 2023 was 14,800
Detroit saw 252 homicides in 2023, an 18% drop from 2022, amid fewer nonfatal shootings.
Related reading
01 · Category
Homicides & Gun Violence29 stats
01
Detroit recorded 252 homicides in 2023
02
The 252 homicides in 2023 represent an 18% decrease compared to 2022
03
Detroit saw 804 non-fatal shootings in 2023
04
Non-fatal shootings decreased by 16% year-over-year in 2023
05
Detroit police recovered 8,531 illegal firearms in 2023
06
80% of homicides in Detroit involve a firearm
07
Gang-related homicides accounted for 25% of total murders in 2022
08
Over 2,000 guns were seized through the "Ceasefire" initiative in 2023
09
40% of non-fatal shootings occurred in 3 out of 11 precincts
10
Domestic homicides accounted for 12% of total murders in 2022
11
Firearms were used in 92% of Detroit carjackings in 2022
12
65% of gunshot victims were between ages 18-34
13
Detroit’s homicide rate is 37 per 100,000 residents as of 2023
14
Gun violence among youth under 18 decreased by 10% in 2023
15
Ghost gun recoveries increased 200% between 2021 and 2023
16
The number of mass shooting incidents (4+ victims) was 12 in 2023
17
Weapon law violations numbered 5,800 in 2022
18
Stray bullet incidents causing property damage dropped 15%
19
Gun buyback programs collected 1,500 weapons in 2023
20
Shooting incidents at block parties rose by 15% in summer 2023
21
Average age of a homicide suspect in Detroit is 26
22
Average age of a homicide victim in Detroit is 31
23
Firearms stolen from parked cars reached 500 in 2023
24
12% of total homicides were linked to "justifiable self-defense"
25
Road rage related shootings increased by 9% in 2023
26
Felony firearm charges were filed in 4,000 cases in 2023
27
2% of homicides were found to be accidental shootings
28
Homicides in the 1st Precinct (Downtown) dropped to zero in Q4 2023
29
85% of murder victims had a prior criminal record
Interpretation
Homicides & Gun Violence Interpretation
While the welcome decline in homicides and shootings suggests Detroit's strategies are gaining traction, the sheer volume of illegal firearms, their concentration in specific neighborhoods, and the stark demographics of those involved reveal a deep-seated crisis that is far from solved.
02 · Category
Juvenile & Domestic Crime25 stats
01
Arrests for domestic violence offenses rose 7% in 2022
02
Juvenile arrests for violent crimes dropped 12% in 2023
03
Domestic violence reports totaled 15,200 in 2022
04
30% of domestic violence victims in Detroit are under 25
05
15% of all violent crime victims in Detroit are juveniles
06
Youth curfew violations increased 25% during summer 2023
07
Violent crime in public schools dropped 5% in the 2022-2023 year
08
22% of aggravated assaults were categorized as domestic disputes
09
Child abuse reports saw a 4% increase in Detroit in 2022
10
School truancy cases reached 4,500 in the 2022 academic year
11
Domestic violence shelter occupancy in Detroit stayed at 95% in 2023
12
Underage drinking citations increased 15% during festival season
13
Murder of juveniles decreased by 20% in 2023
14
Juvenile possession of handguns rose 5% in 2023
15
Reports of elder abuse in Detroit increased by 8% in 2022
16
Child support enforcement warrants rose by 5% in 2023
17
Domestic violence related calls increase by 20% on holidays
18
Recidivism rates for youth offenders in Detroit is 25%
19
School resource officers increased from 50 to 75 in 2023
20
Missing persons reports for juveniles increased by 2% in 2023
21
20% of domestic violence cases involved a weapon other than a gun
22
Domestic violence shelter calls peaked in July 2023
23
Juvenile curfew centers processed 800 teens in 2023
24
Firearms were seized in 35% of domestic violence arrests
25
Assaults with a dangerous weapon involving juveniles rose 3%
Interpretation
Juvenile & Domestic Crime Interpretation
While Detroit's youth show promising signs in some major crime categories, the persistently high and often armed domestic violence statistics reveal a troubling cycle of harm that is still incubating the city's next generation of trauma.
03 · Category
Law Enforcement & Response30 stats
01
Detroit's ShotSpotter technology detected 32,000 gunfire incidents in 2022
02
The average police response time to Priority 1 calls was 12 minutes in 2023
03
Detroit Police Department operates with 2,500 active officers as of 2023
04
The city’s homicide clearance rate reached 55% in 2023
05
Project Green Light now includes 850 participating businesses
06
Detroit's population-to-officer ratio is 1 officer per 252 residents
07
Detroit Police body camera compliance reached 98% in 2023
08
Community violence intervention (CVI) programs received $10 million in funding
09
Police overtime spending exceeded budget by $15 million in 2023
10
Detroit PD solved 22 cold case murders in 2023
11
Calls for mental health crises increased by 14% in 2023
12
1,200 illegal dirt bike and ATV seizures occurred in 2023
13
There was an 18% increase in police recruitment graduates in 2023
14
Illegal drug possession arrests decreased by 8% in 2023
15
Detroit Police conducted 12,000 traffic stops in Q3 of 2023
16
70% of carjackings were solved within 72 hours via Green Light footage
17
Witness intimidation reports saw a 5% rise in 2022
18
Detroit PD spent $4 million on new surveillance drones in 2023
19
Arrests for prostitution decreased by 25% following decriminalization efforts
20
Police dashcam implementation reached 100% in 2023
21
Police helicopter patrol hours increased by 20% in 2023
22
Detroit Police used non-lethal force in 85% of resist-arrest cases
23
Illegal casino raids increased by 30% in 2022
24
Stun gun usage by DPD increased 12% to avoid firearms
25
500 new security cameras were installed in city parks in 2023
26
45% of Detroit residents report feeling "unsafe" walking at night
27
Use of "AI" in dispatching calls reduced wait times by 1 minute
28
Police canine units were deployed 1,200 times in 2023
29
Police helicopter "Eagle" assisted in 400 arrests in 2023
30
Total number of 911 calls processed in 2023 was 1.2 million
Interpretation
Law Enforcement & Response Interpretation
Detroit is a city where technology is scaling up faster than trust, with every new surveillance drone and Green Light camera creating a digital net that catches both criminals and evidence of a community still struggling to feel safe.
More related reading
04 · Category
Property Crime30 stats
01
Motor vehicle thefts increased by 9% in 2023, totaling 10,400 incidents
02
Over 35,000 total property crimes were reported in 2023
03
Larceny-theft incidents accounted for 14,000 reports in 2022
04
Burglary incidents decreased by 5% in 2023
05
Property crime in downtown Detroit decreased by 15% due to increased patrols
06
Detroit reported 45 cases of arson in October 2023 alone
07
Residential burglaries dropped 10% in high-income districts
08
Auto parts theft increased by 20% due to catalytic converter demand in 2023
09
Retail fraud cases increased by 11% in 2023
10
Shoplifting reports at gas stations rose 18% in 2023
11
Vandalism and graffiti reports increased by 6% in 2023
12
Theft from motor vehicles totaled 6,200 reported cases in 2022
13
Residential arson cases declined 20% in 2023 due to blight removal
14
Stolen property recovery rate improved by 4% in 2023
15
Cybercrime complaints in the Detroit metro area rose 30% in 2022
16
50% of auto thefts involved vehicles left running
17
Commercial burglaries at tech stores increased by 15%
18
Identity theft reports in Detroit grew by 12% in 2023
19
There were 3,200 reports of fraud in 2022
20
Public intoxications reports fell by 10% in 2023
21
Motor vehicle thefts in the 8th Precinct rose by 40% in one year
22
Bank robbery incidents dropped to just 4 in 2023 city-wide
23
60% of fire-related deaths in Detroit were ruled accidental
24
Homeless camp-related crimes decreased by 18% with housing initiatives
25
Counterfeit currency reports rose by 10% in 2023
26
Narcotics sales reports in residential neighborhoods grew by 12%
27
Theft of electric vehicle charging cables became a new trend in 2023
28
40% of residential burglaries occurred via unlocked doors
29
5% decrease in liquor store robberies due to Project Green Light
30
Embezzlement reports decreased by 14% in 2022
Interpretation
Property Crime Interpretation
While Detroit's criminals are showing a worrying preference for modern problems like catalytic converters and EV cables, the city is finding that old-school solutions—like actually locking doors and installing better lights—are still remarkably effective at combating the stubbornly persistent, and occasionally baffling, trends in property crime.
05 · Category
Violent Crime24 stats
01
There were 618 carjackings reported in 2022
02
Carjackings dropped 34% in 2023 with 408 incidents
03
The total number of violent crimes reported in 2023 was 14,800
04
Detroit’s violent crime rate remains over 2,000 per 100,000 residents
05
Aggravated assaults totaled 10,750 in 2022
06
Aggravated assaults decreased by 1.6% in 2023
07
Robbery incidents increased by 5% in 2022 compared to 2021
08
There were 1,650 reported robberies in 2023
09
There were 860 reported rapes in Detroit in 2022
10
Simple assault cases reached 22,000 in 2022
11
Fatalities from hit-and-run accidents increased 12% in 2023
12
10% of total violent crimes in Detroit are committed by repeat offenders on parole
13
Kidnapping reports remained stable at 120 incidents in 2022
14
Assaults against police officers increased by 3% in 2022
15
Detroit has the highest violent crime rate of cities over 500,000
16
Extortion reports in Detroit increased from 42 to 58 in 2022
17
Violent crime in the 3rd Precinct fell 14% with pedestrian patrols
18
Sexual assault kit backlog was reduced to zero in 2023
19
Human trafficking arrests in Detroit increased by 20% in 2022
20
Violent crimes using knives decreased by 7% in 2023
21
Hate crime reports in Detroit remained at 35 incidents in 2022
22
Arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) rose 6% in 2023
23
18% of carjackings were committed by groups of three or more
24
Attempted murder charges decreased by 5% in 2023
Interpretation
Violent Crime Interpretation
While Detroit's 34% drop in carjackings is a welcome glimmer of progress, the city's persistently sky-high violent crime rate proves that digging out of a crisis requires more than a single shovel of good news.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Detroit Crime Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/detroit-crime-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Detroit Crime Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/detroit-crime-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Detroit Crime Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/detroit-crime-statistics.
Sources & references
16 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level