KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville Police Department released its preliminary priority crime report for 2025, showing that murders and non-fatal shootings were down, but assaults were up.
Murders are down 26%, non-fatal shootings are down 27%, and reported robberies are down 27% in 2025, KPD said. There were 23 murders in 2024 but only 17 in 2025 — the fewest since 2016 — police reported. This is below the 10-year average of 27. They also said motor vehicle thefts were down 22% and car burglaries were down 1% compared to 2024.
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However, simple assaults rose 11% from 2,091 to 2,320. This is above the 10-year average of 2,255. Also, aggravated assaults were up 2%, with a larger percentage (46% compared to 40%) believed to be domestic in nature.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has not audited the data yet, KPD said…