Has group violence pilot pushed crime to other parts of Baltimore? Leaders say no; research finds no evidence of displacement.

Officials have attributed a drop in shootings in Baltimore’s Western District to a group violence reduction pilot launched earlier this year to provide people most at-risk of shooting or being shot with services and social support. Through the end of November, both fatal and nonfatal shootings were down more than 30% in the target area, according to the city agency overseeing the project. But, with Baltimore roughly on pace with last year’s homicide totals, City Council members questioned Thursday whether the project was truly tamping down violence — or just displacing it to other parts of the city.