Kansas City is one of just six major U.S. cities where homicides rose in early 2025 — bucking a national trend of falling violent crime, new police data shows.
Why it matters: While killings dropped nearly 20% nationwide, KC saw a 12% jump, underscoring how the factors driving crime here aren’t playing out everywhere else.
By the numbers: Homicides in Kansas City rose from 75 in the first half of 2024 to 84 in the same period this year, a 12% increase, per MCCA.
- Rape reports increased 26%, from 134 to 169.
- Aggravated assaults dropped 13%, from 2,968 to 2,581.
- Robberies declined nearly 18%, from 580 to 475.
What they’re saying: “Crime patterns and reduction are complex,” Kansas City police said in a statement to Axios.
- KCPD cited improved officer retention and new tools like foot patrols and a Rapid Deployment Squad as factors in reducing some crimes.
- But when it comes to homicides, “we continue to see the number one contributing factor … to be arguments that escalate into gun violence,” the department said.
Zoom out: Nationwide, homicide rates decreased by 19% across 68 major cities surveyed. Rapes declined by 9%, aggravated assaults fell by 10%, and robberies dropped by 18%…