(The Center Square) — The Shreveport Police Department reported data shows that guns continue to be seized throughout the city as homicides and shootings decline.
The department said it has seized 500 guns so far this year, on pace for possibly a smaller amount compared to previous years.
A year-end report showed that in 2024, the department seized 1,101 guns, 1,204 guns in 2023, 1,163 guns in 2022 and 1,217 guns in 2021. When adding in the 500 so far this year, the department has taken over 5,000 firearms off the streets of Shreveport.
Firearms training took place this week as the SPD collaborated with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Shreveport City Marshal’s Office and the LSU Shreveport Police Department.
“The Shreveport Police Department takes gun-related offenses seriously and will continue working diligently to remove illegal firearms from the streets to protect the community,” the department said in a previous news release.
The city has been enjoying a continuous decline in both the homicide rate, shots fired calls, and yearly shootings.
Yearly shots fired calls have declined by almost 50% from 2021 to 2024, with 1,021 reported for this year so far. In 2024, the department reported 2,632 shots fired calls, 3,002 in 2023, 3,340 in 2022 and 4,649 in 2021. Not all shots fired calls mean someone was injured, but that a shot was fired and called in.
When it comes to gun violence, Louisiana has the third-highest rate of gun homicides and gun assaults in the U.S., according to reported stats. Homicides in the state involving guns totaled 84% compared to 78% nationwide.
Shreveport’s yearly shootings are declining despite a spike in 2023. There have been 105 reported shootings up to this point in 2025. Last year, the city had 283, compared to 318 in 2023, 300 in 2022, and 458 shootings in 2021.
Additional efforts to combat violent crime in Shreveport include the Real Time Crime Center and various initiatives set in place by the city council and SPD.
