(The Center Square) − Calls for shots fired in New Orleans have fluctuated significantly over the past five years, with a sharp decline in 2023 but a concerning rise in violent crime mostly attributable to, according records obtained by The Center Square.
The following are data in which the initial call for service was classified as a Code 94, which is the New Orleans Police Department’s code for shots fired. This is not data relating to all calls for service.
From 2020 to 2024, NOPD recorded 24,179 calls with initial descriptions related to gunfire. The number of calls peaked in 2021 at 4,676 before dropping to 4,546 in 2022 and declining further to 3,601 in 2023. In 2024, the total fell to 3,175, excluding calls confirmed as fireworks.
So far in 2025, 196 calls have been recorded. Not all of these incidents resulted in confirmed gunfire or crimes against persons or businesses — some were later classified as fireworks or other disturbances, such as fights or disorderly conduct.
Of all initial reports, 14,045 calls were marked as gone on arrival, meaning officers made “no contact with any involved party, witness, or complainant either in person or by phone.” Even among calls ultimately classified as confirmed gunfire, 9,926 were also marked as gone on arrival. Additionally, 544 calls were later determined to be fireworks.
In 2022, gone on arrival descriptions peaked at 3,304 before falling in 2023 to 2,524 and again in 2024 to 1,380. It is important to note that NOPD staffing is dealing with tremendous staffing difficulties, with uniformed officers currently near all time lows.
Despite fluctuations in reported gunfire, violent crime reports have seen notable shifts. From 2020 to the present, 1,263 violent crimes were reported in which the initial call for service was for reported gunshots.
In 2022, there were 250 violent crimes recorded, dropping to 93 in 2023 before spiking to 316 in 2024, mostly aggravated assaults. So far in 2025, 14 violent crimes have been recorded.
NOPD said prior to 2022, gunfire-related calls were categorized under incident Code 94, but in 2022, the department began using a “Shots Fired” classification. After determining that this system was ineffective, NOPD reverted to using Code 94.
The decline in Code 94 calls reflects the general decline in crime reported by the city. According to NOPD, overall crime in New Orleans declined in 2024 compared to 2023, the three- and five-year averages, and 2019 crime levels.
The city saw a 26% drop in total crime compared to 2023, including a 20% decrease in person crimes and a 27% decrease in property crimes. Homicides fell by 35%, nonfatal shootings by 44%, armed robberies by 38% and carjackings by 49%.
Compared to the five-year average, crime was down 23% in 2024, with a 29% reduction in person crimes and a 22% drop in property crimes. Carjackings decreased by 66%, and nonfatal shootings fell by 53% in this timeframe.
Compared to 2019, the last historic low for crime in New Orleans, 2024 saw a 29% overall decrease in crime, including a 14% drop in person crimes and a 32% decline in property crimes.
On Monday, NOPD reported across-the-board decreases in crimes against persons and businesses for last week and the same week in 2024, including a 26% decline in crimes against persons and a 44% decline in property crimes.
