Violent crime in New Orleans is down to levels not seen in decades. That’s right, through June 25, the city has seen 38 murders. If that pace continues, it will end the year with around the number of murders it saw in 1969. This also marks a 24% decrease from the same time last year. In addition, nonfatal shootings in the first half of the year were down 16% at 77, from 92 the year prior.
It’s all part of a trend of declining violent crime over the past three years in the city after the post-pandemic highs. Comparing the first half of 2026 to the same span in 2023, murders are down 68%, nonfatal shootings are down 70%, armed robberies are down 62% and carjackings are down 63%.
We need to be shouting this news from the rooftops, or perhaps, in true New Orleans fashion, throwing a huge party to celebrate it — because the turnaround is truly remarkable and removes one of the tired old tropes too often used to depress tourism and other economic activity in the city…