That's a 28 percent decrease.
Police say the decline began last fall.
Chief of Detectives Keith Sadler says shootings are down as well.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey this year unveiled a crime-fighting strategy to reduce the homicide rate by 25 percent from last year, when 392 people were killed.
The plan puts a heavy emphasis on increasing police visibility and patrols.
Crime experts are cautious in explaining why rates rise or fall, saying the reasons are complicated and numerous factors are involved.
