ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Roanoke Police say the city is safer after three-quarters of the year, though the city is approaching last year’s homicide total. Overall crime is down 14% compared to the same time last year.
Police gave an update Wednesday on crime during a quarterly crime stats news conference. Homicides are down slightly through nine months of the year, but the city is nearing 2025’s total. So far, 10 people have been killed in eight homicide incidents in 2026, with nearly three months remaining in the year. During all of 2025, there were 12 homicides.
Early this year, Roanoke was ahead of 2025’s homicide numbers, but the last six months have seen fewer deaths…