New York City reports decline in violence, no killings last week

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- There were no homicides in the five boroughs of New York City last week, the mayor's office announced, the first homicide-free week since January.

The city has experienced a 26 percent decline in killings from 2013, police said Monday. New York has seen 256 homicides thus far, down from 346 in the same time period in 2012. Shootings have declined 23.2 percent, from 1,145 year to year.

Of the lack of homicides in the seven-day period that ended Sunday, the New York Post quoted a "veteran police source" as saying, "It's an anomaly, no doubt about it. The Grim Reaper took a break this week."