LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington recorded its fourth straight year of declining gun violence in 2025, with the fewest total homicides in a decade and the lowest number of gunshot victims since 2010, according to new city data highlighting sustained reductions since 2021.
The city reported 20 homicides last year, including 19 by gun, compared with a four-year average of 29 gun-related killings. Reported shooting victims totaled 50, down from a recent four-year average of 101, city figures show.
Youth and young adults — the primary focus of the city’s anti-violence strategy — saw sharper declines. Lexington recorded 10 gun-related homicides involving victims ages 10 to 29, compared with an average of 15 over the previous four years. Nonfatal shootings in that age group dropped to 32, down from a four-year average of 69.
City officials emphasized that long-term trends present a clearer picture than year-to-year comparisons and cited three- to five-year averages to demonstrate what they described as a roughly 60% reduction in community violence since 2021. Shooting and homicide statistics are published on the Lexington Police Department transparency dashboards.
The declines come as the city continues a multi-agency effort to curb gun violence, in part through ONE Lexington, an initiative housed in the mayor’s office that coordinates community partners, government agencies, schools, nonprofits and faith groups in prevention and intervention work.
“As the city of Lexington continues to grow, one of the challenges we face is community violence,” ONE Lexington Director Devine Carama said in a statement. “What makes our city such a great place is how we handle these challenges — with a community-focused approach.” Carama said the effort relies on collaboration across public safety agencies, courts, community organizations and residents.
While city officials highlighted the sustained reductions, some residents and observers have urged continued scrutiny of leadership and spending. Carama has previously been reprimanded over financial mismanagement in the past, most notably after an audit found he repeatedly used a city procurement card to spend over $1,200 on a personal trip to New York City — a fact that has occasionally resurfaced in debates over the initiative’s direction and accountability. Supporters, however, argue the recent reductions demonstrate progress and say collaborative strategies should continue.
Officials note that violence prevention remains ongoing despite the downward trend, and the city plans to release a full 2025 annual report in the coming weeks.
