Inquiry
Subject: Follow-up: NYPD Shooting Incident Data — discharge vs. victim-struck definition
Hello NYPD Open Data Team,
Thank you for the earlier clarification that the shooting data include any incident in which a firearm is discharged that is made known to the NYPD, covering both fatal and non-fatal incidents, with fatal incidents identified by the Statistical Murder Flag.
I am writing to confirm one further point of definition that is important for my analysis. I would like to understand precisely what unit each record in the dataset represents:
1. Does each record represent an incident in which a victim was physically struck by gunfire (that is, a shooting with an injury or fatality), or
2. Does each record include any reported firearm discharge, including discharges where no person was struck (for example, shots fired with no injury)?
In other words, are non-fatal records limited to incidents with a confirmed victim injury, or do they also include discharges that produced no physical injury?
I am working with the NYPD Shooting Incident Data (Historic) dataset (https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Public-Safety/NYPD-Shooting-Incident-Data-Historic-/833y-fsy8) covering 2017 to 2023. If the inclusion criteria differ between the historic file and the current-year file, I would appreciate knowing that as well.
If there is a data dictionary or documentation that specifies the inclusion criteria (struck victim versus any discharge), a link would be very helpful.
Thank you for your assistance.