According to Denver Police Department data, shootings in the city of Denver are down by more than 50% in 2024 compared to 2023.
DENVER — The abundance of police blockade tape and flashing lights in parts of downtown Denver this month undoubtedly created fear.
Three people were shot last week near the 16th Street Mall and Union Station, and there were two shootings just off 19th Street earlier this month, including one in which a police officer shot and killed a man who was allegedly carrying a gun, and another on Saturday.
“Yeah, it was tough dealing with a situation like that here downtown,” said a witness to the August shooting outside Union Station.
Denver police said they’ve responded to more than 30 total shootings across downtown so far this year, including at least four fatalities. Is that a lot? Or less than normal? 9NEWS reached out to the Denver Police Department for numbers.
As of August 20th of this year, there had been 32 shootings in the Denver Police Department’s 6th District, which covers all of downtown, Capitol Hill and Cheesman Park.
During the same period last year, there were 66 shootings in the same area.
In 2022, there were 52 shootings and in 2021 there were 46.
Denver police say the number of non-fatal shootings downtown is down more than 50% this year compared to this time last year.
“No matter where these incidents are happening, it’s hard for our city to make people feel truly safe and want to come back,” said Courtney Garrett with the Downtown Denver Partnership.
The city is working to renovate the 16th Street Mall to encourage people to return after the pandemic. Police are also stepping up patrols in LoDo to make sure people leave the area quickly after bars close on the weekends.
“We are hopeful that dispersing the crowds and patrons will lead to increased safety,” Denver Police Chief Kimberly Bowser said.
Although the numbers show a decline in shootings, even one feels like one too many.
Violent gun crimes, including assaults, sexual assaults and robberies, have also declined in the downtown area, but at a lower rate. Year-over-year, violent gun crimes in the downtown area are down 25% — the lowest in the past four years.
All of the data the Denver Police Department makes available to the public can be found here.
