Homicides in D.C. are down 28% compared to the same point in 2023, when the city closed out the year at a 26-year high in killings.
Why it matters: D.C. has a chance at ending the year with under 200 homicides for the first time since 2020, as a COVID-era crime wave reverses course.
By the numbers: There have been 176 homicides as of Monday, according to D.C. police stats .
- Carjackings are down by nearly half, the data shows — after increasing for six straight years.
- Robberies are down 39% and assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 29%.
- Violent crime overall has declined 35%.
Catch up quick: Homicides soared from 166 in 2019 to a total tally last year of 274.
- D.C. approved a sweeping public safety bill in March and increased targeted police presence in commercial corridors like Chinatown and Anacostia.
Zoom out: New data from major U.S. cities shows homicides dropped again in the first nine months of 2024 — more than 40% in some communities, Axios’ Russell Contreras writes.