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Minneapolis police Chief Brian O'Hara said the department solved 80 percent of homicide cases in 2025 — the highest rate the department has had in recent history.

O'Hara discussed this and other crime statistics with members of a City Council committee Wednesday. 

, O'Hara said the department solved 40 percent of non-fatal shootings in 2025. But he said he expects that number to rise this year as the department has dedicated investigators to respond to those incidents. O’Hara said members of the Firearm Assault Shoot Team work separately from the homicide investigation team. 

"So now we effectively have the same level of response to non-fatal shootings that we do for homicides, and that's why we expect the clearance rates to be higher now for this year," said O’Hara.

Last year, the St. Paul Police Department announced that its focus on solving 

 led to a dramatic decrease in homicides in 2025.  

According to preliminary totals from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, St. Paul registered 15 homicides last year with 12 of them were cleared due to arrest. Minneapolis saw 62 homicides last year, according to the BCA.

City Council member Robin Wonsley has championed a similar focus on non-fatal shootings in Minneapolis.   

“I'm very thankful to my colleagues for supporting those efforts and for collaboration and actual serious implementation by the administration, specifically under your leadership chief,” Wonsley said.

 in years where the number of homicides is high. Low staffing numbers can also hamper the department’s ability to close homicide cases.

O’Hara also gave an update on the number of homicides in the city so far this year. 

The chief said the number of non-negligent homicides — or killings that are not accidental — is up slightly compared to this time last year. And he said there's been a 14 percent decline in the number of shooting victims this year compared to the same period in 2025.

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Police officials say investigators closed 80 percent of homicide cases opened in 2025. Chief Brian O’Hara says that’s the highest in recent history.

Minneapolis police solved 80 percent of homicides in 2025, the highest rate in recent history

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