Homicide rates in New Orleans continue to fall year over year, extending a nationwide decline that began after the pandemic-era crime spike.
Why it matters: Crime remains one of the country’s most politically potent issues, even as many major cities report sustained declines in violence.
The big picture: Data from 67 major U.S. law enforcement agencies shows violent crime fell across major categories during the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025.
- The declines appear across every major region, suggesting a nationwide trend.
- The quarterly reports collected by the Major Cities Chiefs Association have historically tracked closely with the annual FBI crime data released in the fall.
Zoom in: In New Orleans, homicides fell 25.9% year over year. Last year’s figures don’t include the 14 victims from the Bourbon Street terror attack, officials say.
- For the three-year period, homicides are down 67%, NOPD says.
- Nationally, homicides dropped 17.7%, according to the MCCA data.
Worth noting: Some of the nation’s bigger cities posted dramatic homicide declines in the first three months of 2026 — Washington (64.7%), Philadelphia (54%) and Memphis (34.4%)…