Baton Rouge has reported a significant decline in homicide numbers in the first half of 2025, with city officials highlighting the need for continued efforts to address underlying issues. The city recorded **43 homicides** from January to June, marking a **19% decrease** compared to the same period in the previous year. When including additional homicides outside city limits, the total for East Baton Rouge Parish reaches **53**, which is approximately **22% lower** than the **68 homicides** reported by July 1, 2024.
Baton Rouge Police Chief **Thomas Morse** expressed cautious optimism regarding the city’s crime trends, especially considering the department’s challenges, including a **$9 million budget reduction** and a shortage of over **100 officers**. While acknowledging the positive statistics, he emphasized that the situation remains complex. “The officers are doing a great job,” Morse stated, adding that they are “really doing more with less.”
Despite these improvements, **District Attorney Hillar Moore** cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions about future crime trends. “We are not sure what’s going to happen,” he remarked, indicating that fluctuations in crime rates can occur from month to month.
Persistent Challenges in Crime Reduction
Law enforcement officials attribute ongoing violence to several factors, including gang activity, repeat offenders, and a concerning trend of young males committing crimes. Morse and Moore identified gangs such as the **Bleedas**, **60 Gang**, **448**, and **TBG** as significant contributors to the violence in Baton Rouge. “Baton Rouge doesn’t just have a homicide problem. Baton Rouge has a bullet problem,” said **Jeff LeDuff**, a former police chief currently working in the Mayor’s Office.
Among the **53 homicides** recorded in the parish, nine were related to domestic violence, while two involved murder-suicides. The remainder primarily resulted from gun violence, exacerbated by the availability of **Machinegun Conversion Devices** that convert handguns into fully automatic weapons. This increase in gun violence has led to tragic incidents, including the death of **Trevor Harrison**, a 27-year-old plumber who was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Morse pointed out that the victims often include young men associated with criminal activities. “If you are not in that lifestyle, you are much safer,” he noted, drawing parallels between Baton Rouge and other cities across the United States.
Collaborative Efforts to Combat Violence
In response to staffing shortages and budget constraints, local law enforcement has intensified collaborations with federal and state agencies. These partnerships aim to target violent gangs and reduce crime. In June 2025, authorities arrested over a dozen members of the local **Vultures** gang, following a months-long investigation involving agencies such as the **FBI**, **ATF**, and **DEA**.
While the Baton Rouge Police Department has had to discontinue certain targeted patrols due to budget cuts, Morse reported that the absence of these patrols has not led to an increase in violence, largely because of federal support. The **70805** and **70802** ZIP codes, historically high-crime areas, continue to report the highest homicide numbers this year, with **12** and **nine** homicides, respectively.
As officials work to address the root causes of violence, they are revisiting community intervention programs. LeDuff is spearheading efforts to revive the **BRAVE** initiative, which was designed to divert gang-involved youth from violence. This program aims to combine enforcement strategies with community resources, offering support services to individuals at risk.
The new initiative, still in its planning stages, will provide wraparound services, including mental health support, educational resources, and assistance for families facing financial barriers. LeDuff expressed hope that this mixed approach will yield positive outcomes, stating, “This is the initiative that brought us success 13 years ago. We are bringing it back.”
As Baton Rouge navigates its current challenges, both Morse and Moore are determined to pursue all available resources to sustain the decline in homicides. “It’s not an issue we can arrest our way out of,” Morse concluded. “We need help on the front end with community resources. We need help in the middle with people calling crime stoppers. And we need help on the back end with prosecutors.”
