Regardless of near-weekly information experiences of shootings in components of Seattle and King County, each have skilled vital drops in homicides over the previous few years, in response to an analysis by The Seattle Times, knowledgeable with knowledge from the King County Prosecutor’s Workplace and the Seattle Police Division. Even with the unhappy headlines, the lower in deaths is encouraging.
Together with the decline in homicides is an total drop in gun violence.
In 2023, there have been 107 firearm homicides within the county and 369 nonfatal shootings. In 2024, there have been 75 homicides and 319 nonfatal shootings. Thus far in 2025 there have been 22% fewer homicides for the primary half of the 12 months than the identical interval in 2024.
King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion attributed the drastic drop in homicides to efforts by her workplace to extra aggressively prosecute suspects concerned in nonfatal shootings, who generally go on to be concerned in deadly shootings. She mentioned knowledge reveals that those that are concerned in nonfatal shootings have a better danger of being concerned in a deadly one, both as a sufferer or perpetrator, down the highway.
Nonetheless, even with the lower, extra must be achieved to alter the trajectory in the case of the general use of weapons and gun violence amongst youngsters.
Since 2022, the variety of weapons confiscated by police, simply in Seattle, has elevated, with 1,913 seized in 2023, 1,934 in 2024 and 1,345 as of July 31 for 2025.
As well as, there’s been a gentle enhance within the variety of shootings — deadly and nonfatal — of individuals 17 and youthful since 2022.
In 2023, 9% of the taking pictures victims have been 17 and youthful. In 2024, 15% the place in that age group.
Within the first quarter of this 12 months, 11.6% of taking pictures victims have been 17 or youthful. Within the second quarter, 15.94% of taking pictures victims have been 17 or youthful. Such incidents typically result in retaliation, many occasions with weapons.
Manion has made significant progress towards addressing youth gun violence. In 2024 she launched the Safer Schools Strategy, which is designed to coordinate with faculty districts to inform them when youngsters have pending felonies involving firearms. In its first 12 months, 100 notifications have been made, Manion’s workplace mentioned.
In the meantime, the state Legislature this 12 months stood in the best way of progress in the case of youth gun violence. Manion tried to steer lawmakers to alter the legislation that permits juveniles to have 5 firearms convictions earlier than they are often held for longer than 30 days in a state juvenile rehabilitation program. The primary 4 gun convictions are restricted to a most of 30 days in a neighborhood juvenile facility. The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Hackney, D-Renton, would have lowered the requirement to a few convictions for juveniles to be held in a state program. However the invoice died an early demise.
Manion and Hackney are heading in the right direction in the case of turning the tide in gun violence. Extra elected officers ought to use their energy to assist save lives.
