Another big drop in murders and shootings in the city, NY1 has learned.
The number of murders fell 10 percent and shootings declined 23 percent in the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period last year.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O'Neill were scheduled to announce the new numbers at a press conference Monday afternoon, but NY1 Criminal Justice Reporter Dean Meminger got an early look at some of the numbers.
Through April 2, there were 63 murders in the city compared to 70 murders during the first three months of 2016.
And there have been 149 shootings so far this year compared to 194 during the same period last year.
Police are crediting their so-called precision policing tactics, which target known gang members and individuals who cause a disproportionate share of the city's violence. That violence is concentrated in small pockets of the city, according the NYPD.
Police say when the weather warms up, there could be an increase in violence, but they add that they are prepared to quickly respond to any areas that see a rise in crime.
The NYPD's success in continuing to drive down murders and shootings stands in contrast to increases seen in Chicago and some other major cities in the U.S. Indeed, if the trend over the first three months continues, New York City would finish the year with the fewest number of murders in the modern era of the NYPD.
There were 335 murders in 2016.