Homicides in Cleveland fell by nearly 30% in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, new national crime data shows.
Why it matters: Cleveland’s drop is consistent with many of the nation’s large and midsize cities, reinforcing a broader decline in violent crime since the pandemic surge.
By the numbers: Cleveland saw 46 homicides between Jan. 1 and June 30, according to stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
- That’s down from 64 in the same period in 2024.
- Nationwide, homicides fell by 19%, with decreases of at least 50% in Denver, Honolulu, Orlando and Tampa.
- In Cleveland, incidents of rape, robbery and aggravated assault also declined.
Catch up quick: There was a notable increase in the rate of gun violence across the U.S. during the pandemic.
- The recent downward trend counters President Trump’s false claims that immigration had sparked rising crime nationwide — a reason he gave for his mass deportation plan.
The latest: “The truth is that it’s all happening in spite of Donald Trump, not because of him,” Mayor Justin Bibb wrote in an MSNBC op-ed this month.
- Democratic mayors “have stepped up to demonstrate what real leadership looks like … We are managing what we can control and doubling down on programs and strategies that work.”
Zoom in: Bibb has touted the RISE initiative, targeted enforcement in the city’s “hot spots,” and summer safety campaigns built around community engagement…