PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — Gun-related homicides among the most impacted communities in Virginia are decreasing the most drastically in the city of Petersburg, according to a new state report.
The Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) issued a report in December 2025 that looks at gun violence and its impact on Virginia communities. Among localities with higher gun violence levels in the Commonwealth, Petersburg saw the most decline in gun-related homicide rate over the last three years, dropping by 58%.
The city of Petersburg and eight other localities, including the cities of Richmond and Hopewell, were identified as communities with higher violence rates. These nine localities together account for more than half of Virginia’s gun-related homicides…