Gun violence dips in King County, but concerns remain
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Gun violence in King County dropped in 2024, marking the first decline in six years, according to a report from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Why it matters: Gun violence still accounted for more than two-thirds of homicides in King County last year, but the recent data shows the Seattle-area is finally aligning with the national trend of declining violent crime.
By the numbers: Compared to 2023, King County last year saw a 29% drop in fatal shooting victims, a 13% decrease in non-fatal shooting victims and a 6% overall decline in the number of reported shots fired.
Yes, but: Youth gun violence remains a growing concern, with victims under 18 making up 15% of all shooting victims in 2024, up from 9% the previous year, per the prosecutor's report.
- The number of youth shooting victims doubled since 2019 and rose 45% from 2023.
- People of color continue to be disproportionately impacted, making up 76% of shooting victims last year.
Catch up quick: There was a notable increase in the rate of gun violence in the U.S. during the pandemic.
Flashback: In 2022, the violent crime rate in Seattle reached a 15-year record high, with 52 homicides from all causes — a 24% increase over the 42 recorded in 2021, according to the department's year-end crime report.
- Last year, Seattle reported 54 homicides compared to 64 in 2023, a nearly 16% decrease year over year, according to the Seattle Police Department dashboard.
Zoom in: In 2024, 51% of both firearm homicide victims and nonfatal shooting victims were in Seattle, with the remaining incidents primarily in the southern parts of King County, per the report.
What they're saying: "While we still have significant work to do, these numbers are encouraging," Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion told Axios last week.
- "We will keep working on all fronts — in court, with our community partners, and in Olympia — to get guns out of the hands of kids and fight to ensure King County is safe for all our residents."
What we're watching: Mayor Bruce Harrell's push to recruit more police officers and add closed-circuit cameras in some neighborhoods are central to the city's efforts to lower gun violence, his spokesperson Callie Craighead told Axios in an email last week.