Drop in non-fatal shootings ‘story of the summer’ as RPD presents latest crime data

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — On Wednesday, Richmond Police Department (RPD) presented the latest numbers on crime and results from Operation Safe Summer.

Operation Safe Summer was conducted from May 31 to Sept. 6, in an effort to ensure a safer Richmond through the summer months.

According to Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards, who hosted the department’s Third Quarter Crime Briefing and Operational Safe Summer Review on Wednesday, Oct. 8, overall violent crime between May 31 to Sept. 6 decreased by 15% from 2020 to 2025, with a slight increase in 2025, with 305 reports compared to 302 in 2024.

Edwards highlighted Richmond saw the lowest numbers of non-fatal shootings in the year 2025, with Police Chief Edwards calling it a “historic low, and the story of the summer.”

“These are people shooting at each other, and the only thing that saves them is the skill of a surgeon or the angle of the aim of the weapon. So that's an impressive number,” Edwards explained.

However, Edwards noted total violent crime increased 3% since 2024. One of the key factors for the rise is aggravated assault, particularly domestic violence which shot up 89%. Edwards’ explanation for the sharp rise was a new metric that reports when a person chokes or grabs their partner by the throat.

“When we can engage early with simple domestic assault and provide services to the victim and even services to the partner, that can stop what is a punch or a push from turning into, murder,” Edwards said.

YWCA Richmond CEO Rupa Murthy applauded the department’s effort to track these numbers and bring all issues of domestic violence to the forefront.

“Richmond is aligning themselves with national best practices. We are working hand in hand with Richmond Police Department, The Commonwealth's attorney's office and the mayor's office to put an end to violence ," Murthy said.

Murthy also acknowledged the importance of bringing issues to light with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month happening.

“Non-fatal strangulation is an important risk factor,” Murthy said. “To be able to have that data, to be able to understand when that is happening, and making sure that survivors know it is not okay to live in violent homes. They do not have to do that. There is a way out.”

Murthy encouraged those dealing with domestic violence or those who know someone dealing with domestic violence to contact their 24/7 hotline: 804-612-6126.