Fresno Reported 23 Homicides Throughout 2026
Police Chief Mindy Casto shared data showing 23 homicides occurred in Fresno during the 2026 calendar year.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Violence
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Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto reported that the city experienced 23 homicides in 2026. This figure marks a change from the 15 homicides recorded during the same period in 2025.
Why it matters
The statistics provide a measure of public safety trends in Fresno, highlighting a period where the city saw fewer homicides compared to the 74 incidents recorded in both 2020 and 2021. The city also saw a 9 percent year-to-date decrease in overall violent crime.
The Fresno Police Department achieved a 96 percent clearance rate for 2026 homicides and an 80 percent clearance rate for non-fatal shootings. Only two murders from the 2026 period currently remain unsolved.
The players
Mindy Casto
Mindy Casto serves as the Fresno Police Chief and is responsible for reporting on the city's annual crime statistics.
Fresno Police Department
The Fresno Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city and manages local investigations and crime tracking.
The details
Police utilize resource allocation to pursue suspects and calculate clearance rates by identifying individuals or taking them into custody. The report on these statistics was delivered by the police chief during an October 5, 2026, press conference.
Timeline
Fresno recorded 74 homicides during 2020.
Fresno recorded 74 homicides during 2021.
The city recorded 15 homicides during the same period in 2025.
Fresno recorded 23 homicides throughout 2026.
The police chief addressed these statistics on October 5, 2026.
Legal Context
Comparing current violence levels against the historical homicide peak of 74 incidents in 2020 and 2021 provides a benchmark for evaluating progress in city safety. The current homicide count represents a decrease relative to the historical peak set in 2020 and 2021.
The police department's high clearance rates for homicides and shootings aim to reassure residents regarding the resolution of violent crimes. These figures provide the public with a clearer understanding of local safety trends and police investigative success.
The takeaway
The data indicates a significant reduction in lethal violence compared to the highs observed earlier in the decade. Ongoing resource allocation remains a primary strategy for the department to maintain these lower incident levels and high clearance rates.
Further reading
For more information on public safety, visit Fresno Violence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by YourCentralValley.
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