Despite recent violent spree, Denver's crime rates are falling

• On Monday, an Uber driver was shot and killed and a security guard was injured in the same neighborhood in what police described as a random attack.
• On Saturday, five people were shot in LoDo after a woman was reportedly denied entry into a bar — marking the 500th mass shooting in the U.S.
• Two other people were injured in two separate shootings this past weekend.

Reality check: While Denver police chief Ron Thomas called the incidents concerning, he tells us overall violent crime rates in the city are trending downward.

By the numbers: Denver is on pace for 7,174 violent crimes in 2023, lower than the 7,305 actual reported crimes in 2022, according to data presented by Thomas to city council Thursday.

• The information was provided for an overview of his department's budget. Thomas is seeking to add more officers to get the agency to full strength.

Zoom in: As of Sept. 18, the city has recorded 60 murders this year, trending below the three-year-average of 67, DPD officials say.

Of note: Thomas says property crime has also dipped, highlighted by what he called a "significant reduction" in car thefts.