NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — More than 100 lives were lost in homicides in Nashville in 2024. This the fourth year in a row the city has reached triple digits.
Data from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) revealed Nashville reached that tragic milestone in 2017 as well, which broke a nearly two-decade record of only double digit homicide numbers. The South precinct has seen the biggest jump in homicides, with reports showing an 81% increase over this time last year.
Additionally, EveryStat combed through CDC mortality statistics between 2019 and 2023, finding that, on average, 633 people die either by homicide involving a gun or in shootings by police. Tennessee has the eighth highest rate of gun homicide deaths in the country at a rate of 9.7 per 100,000 people.
Conversations about safety have been highlighted across the city, particularly in the wake of an October murder on an Antioch greenway and a deadly targeted shooting in a Nashville park in December. Governor Bill Lee called those shooting deaths unacceptable, stating public safety across the state is one of his priorities.
“Whatever the circumstances are of that, it’s tragic and it’s something that we ought to continuously be focused on,” Lee said at a press event following a murder at Hamilton Creek Recreation Area. “We’ve made significant investments in law enforcement and public safety.”
City officials announced dedicated two officers for Metro’s greenways as a first step toward addressing public safety concerns.
Metro Parks also anticipates an investment in greenway maintenance to be reflected in next year’s budget.
