Edmonton sees 34% increase in shootings during 2023: Police

Edmonton police have released the numbers for shootings in the city over the course of 2023, and the results might not come as a surprise to many.

EPS said in their annual data on shootings, that the city saw an overall increase of 34 per cent compared to 2022.

In December alone, there were 17 reported shooting incidents. Police say of those, 12 are believed to be targetted and 10 resulted in injuries.

However, December was one of the few months that saw a decrease in shootings compared to the previous year. Shootings were down by 19 per cent.

“The overall rise in shootings this past year was concerning, but we are working hard to trend these numbers down in 2024,” says Staff Sergeant Eric Stewart of the EPS Gangs and Guns Section of the Organized Crime Branch.

EPS says in 2023, there were 221 recorded shootings. In 2022, there were 165.

“This includes continuing to actively implement our Guns and Gangs Strategy, which recently added a new Gang Suppression Team and a new Firearms Investigation Unit Team. Together, we hope they’ll help us make significant strides in reducing gun violence citywide.”

EPS notes they were able to seize 892 guns over the year, with .22 caliber rifles and 9 mm handguns being the most common. In many instances, the gun was seized from someone who did not hold a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL).