Fewer Lives Lost: Pittsburgh's Crime Rates Drop in 2025

In 2025, Pittsburgh saw a big drop in homicides. There were only 35 killings, the lowest number in decades. This trend wasn't just in Pittsburgh. Other big cities like New York and Los Angeles also saw fewer murders. Experts say this could be because of better community programs and less violence overall. The suburbs around Pittsburgh also saw fewer homicides. Allegheny County had 36 killings, the lowest since 2011. Some towns, like McKees Rocks and Stowe, had zero homicides. This is a big change from previous years. In 2024, McKees Rocks was named the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania. But not everywhere saw a drop. Westmoreland County had 10 homicides, which was more than the previous two years. Still, officials there say most of these killings were between people who knew each other, not random crimes. Violent crime went down in other ways too. There were fewer shootings, assaults, and burglaries. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said this is good news and a reason to celebrate. She credited the county's efforts to fight crime, like funding health programs and violence prevention.Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey also said his administration's work helped. He increased funding for the Stop The Violence Fund, which supports programs that tackle the causes of violence. But some experts say it's hard to know exactly why crime rates dropped. They want more data before giving credit to any one thing. Behind the numbers, there were still tragic stories. Many of the victims were Black men and women. Most of the homicides were shootings. Some cases were especially heartbreaking, like a man killing his family and then himself. In McKees Rocks, things are getting better. The town had a lot of crime in the past, but in 2025, there were no homicides. People there say more police patrols and community programs helped. They hope this positive change continues. Pittsburgh police say technology and taking guns off the streets also help. They use things like gunshot detection systems and cameras to solve crimes faster. But they know there's still work to do. The goal is to have zero homicides, but that's a tough target.