LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — Newly released FBI crime data shows Louisville’s homicide rate per capita in 2024 was higher than both Chicago and Los Angeles, placing the city 15th nationwide among cities with more than 100,000 residents.
The report found that 22 people per 100,000 in Louisville died by homicide last year, topping Chicago’s rate by five percentage points and tripling Los Angeles. While the ranking highlights Louisville’s persistent challenges with violence, police officials emphasized that the city has seen progress in reducing overall crime.
Louisville’s Ranking and National Context
The FBI’s latest report noted that 82% of the U.S. population is represented in the submitted data. Among the nation’s homicide leaders were Birmingham, St. Louis, Memphis, Baltimore, and Detroit, which occupied the top five positions.
Louisville’s homicide rate placed it between Indianapolis and Cincinnati, other regional cities grappling with violence. The comparison to Boston — a city of similar size — was stark: while Boston reported just 24 homicides, Louisville saw nearly 125 more in 2024…