New data from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reveals a marked decrease in gun violence across the region during the first quarter of 2025, with firearm-related homicides and nonfatal shootings dropping significantly compared to the same period in 2024.
According to the data, firearm homicides in King County declined by 35%—from 20 deaths in the first quarter of 2024 to 13 in the first quarter of this year. Nonfatal shootings also saw a 36% decrease, with 43 people shot so far in 2025 compared to 73 during the same period last year. Reports of shots fired countywide dropped 32%, falling from 407 to 278 year-over-year.
“This doesn’t mean we’ve won the fight against gun violence,” said King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion in an interview with KOMO News. “But it does mean we’re moving in the right direction. The data reflects the positive impact of continued collaboration between communities and law enforcement.”
The statistics are compiled from the ten largest law enforcement agencies in the county and show the sharpest decline in the county’s southern region. Reports of shots fired in South King County plummeted from 230 in the first quarter of 2024 to just 114 during the same period this year.
Manion highlighted the efforts of the Kent Police Department, noting their proactive community partnerships and intervention strategies as a key factor in the reduction.
“They’re working directly with our office to identify those causing harm and are implementing community-based approaches to violence prevention,” she said.
David Baker, Director of Data and Analytics at the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, said the drop in gun violence likely stems from a combination of factors, not just one specific initiative.
“We saw a spike in shootings and firearm-related incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Society went through massive changes during that time,” Baker explained. “Now, in 2025, we’re starting to see a recalibration—these first-quarter numbers suggest a meaningful shift.”
Seattle has also reported a downward trend. As of late April 2025, the city recorded 184 shooting incidents or shots fired calls—down 22% from 224 during the same timeframe last year, according to the Seattle Police Department’s crime dashboard.
While officials remain cautiously optimistic, the message is clear: sustained efforts and multi-agency cooperation are essential to maintaining this positive momentum.
