Firearm violence has been a growing problem in Edmonton for years, however, Edmonton police say the number of shootings reported in the city dropped by 79 per cent in September compared to the year before.
Edmonton Police Service said on Friday that shootings continued to decrease for the sixth straight month. As of September 30, 2024, shootings are down 49 per cent and have continued to decline when compared to the same timeframe in 2023, officials said.
According to EPS six shootings were reported in September 2024, of these, five are believed to be targeted, and two resulted in injuries. In five of the six shootings, there was potential for innocent bystanders to be harmed.
Staff Sergeant Eric Stewart, with the EPS Guns and Gangs Section said, “This is remarkable as our city is growing. Our service-wide focus on reducing gun violence and holding offenders accountable for their actions continues to be a top priority to keeping our communities safe.”
Police seized 72 firearms in September, and 601 overall in 2024. This time last year, 686 firearms were seized in the same time period.