Rochester Reports Lowest First-Half Shooting Victim Total in 15 Years; Mayor Announces Overnight Gathering Restrictions

Rochester recorded its lowest number of shooting victims in the first half of a year in 15 years, according to new data released Thursday by Mayor Malik D. Evans, who also announced new restrictions on large overnight public gatherings following the city's Fourth of July weekend mass shooting.

Mayor Malik Evans announce citywide curfew at press conference Wednesday.

City officials reported that 59 people were struck by gunfire during the first six months of 2026, the fewest for the January-through-June period since 2011, when the city recorded 55 shooting victims.

"Rochester is safe and getting safer," Evans said during a Thursday news conference. "Our gun violence metrics speak for themselves, and within the numbers we can see positive signs of behavior change that lead to self-sustaining declines. Functional zero firearm violence is within reach."

According to the City, the first-half totals included several notable milestones. March and April each recorded the fewest shooting victims for those months in at least 25 years, while February experienced its lowest number of shooting victims since 2012.

The latest figures continue a downward trend in firearm violence that has followed record-high shooting numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. City officials have credited the sustained decline to a combination of focused law enforcement efforts, community violence intervention programs, and partnerships among local, state and federal agencies.

Despite the encouraging statistics, Evans said the City will continue operating under the Gun Violence State of Emergency first declared in 2022.

The announcement comes less than three weeks after a violent early-morning incident on July 5 in downtown Rochester left seven people wounded by gunfire and another person injured in a stabbing. Police reported that more than 50 rounds were fired during the incident, which occurred following large overnight Independence Day weekend gatherings.

In response, Evans signed an emergency order that took effect Thursday restricting large overnight gatherings in public spaces throughout the city.

Under the order, groups of 10 or more people may not gather in public spaces between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Anyone who knowingly or intentionally violates the order may face a Class B misdemeanor charge.

The order includes exemptions for individuals exercising their constitutional rights to free speech, religion and peaceful assembly, as well as those attending properly permitted events, responding to emergencies, or performing legitimate employment duties.

"This is a matter of life and death," Evans said. "Not only do these crowd-related shootings put the lives of those who are engaged in the violence at risk, but it puts the lives of innocent bystanders at risk. Lives are at stake, and I will use every tool at my disposal to protect those lives."

The emergency order is available on the City of Rochester's website.

The new restrictions represent one of the most significant public safety measures adopted since the City declared its Gun Violence State of Emergency four years ago. While City officials say the order is intended to reduce the risk of violence associated with large late-night gatherings, its implementation is expected to generate public discussion regarding its effectiveness and scope.

Thursday's announcement combined two significant developments: evidence of continued declines in Rochester's firearm violence and the City's decision to expand its emergency response following the July 5 shooting.

Minority Reporter will continue examining the broader public safety picture—including trends in overall violent crime, the effectiveness of Rochester's violence prevention strategies, and the City's decision to maintain emergency powers despite historically low shooting totals—in a forthcoming report.