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Seattle Police: 2025 year in review shows some crime numbers dropping

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Seattle Police: 2025 year in review shows some crime numbers dropping


The Seattle Police Department released its 2025 crime stats Monday afternoon during its annual year in review. 

The announcement comes on the heels of the traumatic shooting in Rainier Beach that left two Seattle Public School students dead Friday afternoon. 

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What they’re saying:

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes paused briefly to acknowledge the pain felt by the community. He said that the city still has a lot of work to do to improve safety, though he’s encouraged that violent crime numbers had dropped in 2025. 

“Two Rainier Beach High School students were tragically shot and killed near a bus stop, just steps away from what has always been off limits, a public school,” said SPD Chief Barnes.

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Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes speaks on Rainier Beach shooting

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes speaks on the fatal shooting of two Rainier Beach High School students.

The chief took a moment Monday to remember the teens who were shot and killed near Rainier High School. Friends and loved ones gathered near the site for several emotional vigils this past weekend.

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“Less than 48 hours later, another young man was killed after a party. Three others were hospitalized after being shot. Their losses underscore the truth that we cannot ignore,” said Barnes. 

Despite the devastation caused by the latest round of gun violence, Barnes says the analysis of 2025 crime numbers is providing some hope for a less violent future.

“Today I stand here encouraged,” Barnes said.

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By the numbers:

The chief released the department’s year in review Monday, saying there was a 36% reduction in homicides in 2025, with 21 fewer lives lost, the lowest number since the pandemic. 

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2025 Homicides – SPD Year in Review

  • 36% reduction in homicides
  • 21 fewer lives lost than in the year before
  • Lowest number of homicides since before the pandemic

He also said SPD reported that of those cases, many were solved. He said in 2025, they had a homicide clearance rate of 86% compared to just 57% in 2024.  

The numbers also included a 36% reduction in people struck by gunfire, and an 8% drop in aggravated assaults, a 24% reduction in reports of stolen vehicles and a large increase in firearms recovered. 

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Crime Stats

  • Reduction in people struck by gunfire by 36%
  • Reduction in aggravated assault by 8%
  • Reduction in stolen vehicles by 24%
  • 1,500 firearms recovered (an increase of 74%)

“In 2025, we saw an 18% reduction in the overall reduction in crime in our city,” Barnes said.

Barnes said a focus on retention and recruitment also paid off in 2025, with more than 160 officers hired along with a reduced number of separations. 

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2025 Retention & Recruitment

  • Hired 167 officers in 2025
  • More officers hired than at any other time
  • SPD reduced number of officer separations

“This is not a victory lap, this is the first lap in a long marathon to work toward public safety,” Barnes said. 

He says they also used neighborhood policing officers to curtail crime in targeted areas and focused on analyzing who was committing the most crimes when it came to gun violence, including juvenile offenders.  

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“We were only looking at four or more incidents where this person was caught with a gun within 18 months, and that list is about 60 people, and we have to figure out, how do we connect with them and get them on the right path?”

Barnes said the city will also install more cameras in the area of Capitol Hill near Garfield High School and in Pioneer Square, bringing the total number to around 62 located throughout the community.

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The Source: Information in this story came from the Seattle Police Department and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.

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‘Do you care more about the kids or the drug addicts?’: Jake calls out Seattle for potential homeless shelters near schools – MyNorthwest.com

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‘Do you care more about the kids or the drug addicts?’: Jake calls out Seattle for potential homeless shelters near schools – MyNorthwest.com


After the Seattle City Council moved forward with legislation that would expand temporary homeless shelters without buffer zones near schools, KIRO host Jake Skorheim questioned who the city really cares about.

Jake wondered aloud about what goes on in a Seattle City Council member’s head, assuming they even read the proposal.

“They see the thing, they go like, ‘Well, what do we think about this one here, about school zones?’ They’re like, ‘I don’t know about that. Let’s scratch that out. We can have homeless people around school zones, drug addicts, people who are trying to get their fix,’” he said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

Seattle legislation would increase shelter capacity by 50%

If approved, the legislation would let temporary shelter sites, including tiny home villages, RV safe lots, and tent encampments, increase capacity by 50%, raising the maximum from 100 to 150 residents.

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Approved amendments would require sites with more than 100 beds to maintain public safety plans and around-the-clock staffing. Another amendment would require shelters to establish agreements with surrounding neighborhoods outlining expectations for resident behavior and site management. A final amendment mandates at least one manager for every 15 high-needs residents.

Still, several nonprofits urged council members to pass the bill without amendments, arguing the added restrictions could slow resources to people experiencing homelessness and further stigmatize them.

Jake had a question for city leaders: “Who do you care more about? You care more about the kids or the homeless drug addicts?”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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Seattle beer garden employee found fatally shot inside business

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Seattle beer garden employee found fatally shot inside business


Seattle police are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead Saturday morning at a business in the city’s Lake City neighborhood, authorities said.

Officers responded to the 8500 block of Lake City Way Northeast after employees arriving to open the Growler Guys, a beer garden and restaurant, discovered a deceased man inside around 9 a.m. Saturday, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said at the scene.

The man, who police confirmed to be an employee in his early 20s, appeared to have died from gunshot wounds, Barnes said.

Seattle Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead.

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Dozens of friends and family members of the young victim spent hours on the scene Saturday, and many were visibly overcome with emotion.

Kelly Dole, owner of the Growler Guys, described the victim as a warm, light-hearted young man.

“He was the type of friend that everybody wanted to have,” Dole said. “His group of friends, which includes my son, are really going to miss him. They’re about as tight as a group of young men can be.”

The victim had been working at the business the night before; however, Seattle police have not confirmed when the shooting happened or what may have led up to it.

“When we have things like this, we have to reevaluate what we could’ve done better,” Chief Barnes said. “How can we make sure that we’re doing everything in our power to bring justice to this family, because quite frankly, they deserve it.”

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Detectives are focusing their investigation on the business and were processing the scene for evidence Saturday. Officers, investigators, chaplains, and support services were present.

The restaurant’s owners are cooperating with police, Barnes said. Dole was emotional while speaking with KOMO News about how the tragic shooting has shaken his neighborhood business.

“He always had a smile; he was so buoyant, you could never get him down,” Dole talked about the victim. “The world lost someone important today.”

Authorities said residents can expect an increased police presence in the area as the investigation continues and in the coming days.

There is no suspect information at this time, and police did not make any arrests. The circumstances leading up to the killing are under investigation.

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Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

The killing marks Seattle’s 12th homicide of the year, according to Barnes.

This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.



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Where to watch Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 9

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Where to watch Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 9


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Baseball is back and finding what channel your favorite team is playing on has become a little bit more confusing since MLB announced plans to produce and distribute broadcasts for nearly a third of the league.

We’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know Saturday as the Seattle Mariners visit the Chicago White Sox.

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See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox?

First pitch between the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 9.

How to watch Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox on Saturday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 6:32 a.m.

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

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MLB scores, results

MLB scores for May 9 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



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