Peoria saw a sharp reduction in metrics measuring gun violence last year, including a steep decline in gun-related homicides.
A report released Monday by the Peoria Police Department indicates shooting incidents were down 18% compared to 2024.
The city's total of seven gunshot homicides last year is 61% fewer than in 2024, when 18 people were killed in shooting incidents. Total homicides also decreased, down by almost half year-over-year.
Shooting incidents spiked in 2021, according to the report, which tracks rounds fired, homicides and recovered weapons since 2020. Gun violence has been trending downward since 2023, which police chief Eric Echevarria attributes to proactive policing, strategic deployment and community partnerships.
"We're seeing meaningful progress that hasn't been realized in many years," Echevarria said in a statement. "These results show that consistent strategies and community collaboration work, and our focus now is on maintaining and building on that momentum."
The report also shows a downward trend in the age of gun violence suspects, averaging 25-years-old.
