Across the country, police departments are dealing with major jumps in shootings and murders. But Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD said Thursday that New York is experiencing just the opposite. NY1 criminal justice reporter Dean Meminger has the story.

A wild shooting at a rap concert kills one man and injures three others. A man with a submachine gun kills a 16-year-old girl as she is babysitting. Recent stories that could give the perception the city is out of control.

Releasing new crime statistics Thursday, the NYPD says that's a false perception.

"Unlike other large cities across the country, New York is seeing a decrease in both shootings and homicides," said NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker.

With Mayor de Blasio at their side, police brass announced there were nearly 100 fewer shootings in the first five months of the year, compared to the same period of 2015 —almost a 23% decrease.

And there were 19 fewer homicides, a 13% drop.

De Blasio says cops are getting guns, and the bad guys who use them, off the streets.

"Gun arrests year to date are up 21.8% over last year," de Blasio said. "One thousand four hundred ninety one total so far, obviously directly connects to a decrease in shootings."

The reductions came as violence soared in many other major cities.

In the first quarter of 2016, murders were up 33% in Los Angeles, 70% in Chicago and 73% in Dallas, compared to the same period last year

The NYPD says the declines in the city show its strategy of focusing on the small number of people responsible for an overwhelming number of crimes -- gang members, repeat offenders and career criminals -- is paying off.

"We understand perfectly what is going on in New York," said Deputy Commissioner for Operations Dermot Shea. "It is a laser like precision that the men and women in the New York City police department are carrying out every single day."

Hundreds of violent gang members have been arrested this year following long-term investigations. And More NYPD detectives are working with local and federal prosecutors in preparing prosecutions.

More gang takedowns are scheduled in the coming weeks. And once again this year, officers will be taken off of desk jobs and placed on the streets during the summer months, when crime normally increases as the weather turns warm.