With 27th homicide, Boston surpasses last year’s total with 2 months to go

The death of a Roxbury woman on Monday marked the 27th homicide in Boston this year, more than were recorded all of last year, which officials acknowledged was a historical outlier.

Only 24 homicides were recorded in the state’s largest city in 2024, the lowest figure in decades. This time last year, the city had seen 18, Sgt. Detective John Boyle, a spokesman for the police department, confirmed.

Boston is on pace for about 34 homicides this year, a figure more closely in line with the three years before 2024. The city saw 37 homicides in 2023 and 40 in 2022 and 2021.

Still, despite the rising number of homicides, the number of shootings recorded in the city has remained relatively stable compared to last year. As of Oct. 12, there had been 15 fatal shootings and 91 non-fatal shootings in Boston. By Oct. 12, 2024, there were 16 and 93, respectively, according to data provided by the police department.

Over the past decade, around 70% of homicides in Boston have occurred in either Roxbury, Dorchester, or Mattapan, according to a report from Northeastern University with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office told MassLive earlier this year that its focus was on working “ever closer and harder with our law enforcement and community partners, no matter if crime trends move up or down.

“We know there will be variances each year. Our overarching goal is to keep Boston’s homicide and overall crime rate low compared to the city’s historic past,” Jim Borghesani, a spokesman for the office said.