Stockton Records No Homicides in October

The city's first homicide-free October since 2022 comes as year-to-date killings fall 30% from last year.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Violence

Bold flat-color economist-style editorial illustration of a civic building facade with a still flag under a pale sky, conveying quiet institutional order. — Stockton recorded no homicides in October 2026, its first homicide-free October since 2022, as year-to-date killings fell to 23 from 33 a year earlier. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Stockton recorded no homicides in October 2026, the city's first homicide-free October since October 2022. Year-to-date homicides total 23, down from 33 over the same period in 2025.

Why it matters

The drop in homicides follows a push by Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden to crack down on violent crime. Police believe removing more guns from the streets has reduced deadly violence, with firearms seizures up 50% compared to last year.

Stockton has recorded 23 homicides since January 2026, compared with 33 in the same period of 2025, a 30% decline. Police have not specified whether the trend will hold through the end of the year.

The players

Stanley McFadden

Stanley McFadden is the police chief of Stockton who declared a crackdown on violent crime.

The details

Stockton recorded no homicides in October 2026. Police seized more firearms from the streets and officers and detectives conducted proactive efforts, while the city recorded one homicide in August and two in September.

June 2026: Stockton recorded seven homicides and eight non-fatal shootings.
September 26, 2026: A 17-year-old boy was shot near north Sutter and east Flora streets and later died at a local hospital.
October 2026: Stockton recorded no homicides, the first homicide-free October since October 2022.

Legal Context

Stockton's first homicide-free October since 2022 represents a departure from recent years, when the city's violence levels were more persistent. The reduction in homicides and rise in firearms seizures together mark a shift toward enforcement-driven violence reduction in the city.

Residents in Stockton are seeing fewer homicides this year, with the city's police department reporting a 30% decline compared with the same period in 2025. The increase in firearms seizures means more guns have been taken off local streets.

The takeaway

Stockton's recent decline in homicides shows how focused enforcement and gun seizures can coincide with fewer deadly incidents. Residents tracking local safety can watch whether the year-to-date reduction holds through the end of 2026.