Chicago Homicides Fall to 356 Through October
Police data shows Chicago's 2026 homicide and shooting totals running below 2025 and 2024 levels through October 31.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Violence
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The Chicago Police Department reported 356 homicides in the city through October 31, 2026, 14 fewer than the same period in 2025 and 154 fewer than in 2024. Shootings through October totaled 1,223, down 4% from last year.
Why it matters
The continued decline in homicides and shootings bears directly on public safety across Chicago's neighborhoods after several years of elevated violence. The figures also shape how residents and officials assess whether recent trends are holding.
Chicago recorded 1,560 shooting victims in 2026 through October, down 2% from 2025. Monthly figures show 34 homicides and 107 shootings in October 2026, compared with 37 homicides and 112 shootings in October 2025.
The players
Chicago Police Department
The city's municipal police agency, which compiles and publishes the crime statistics cited in the report.
The details
Violent crime in Chicago is down 7% in 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, and property crime is down 1%. Robberies are down 21%, burglaries are down 8%, and carjackings are down 26%.
Timeline
- October 31, 2026: Cutoff date for the 2026 homicide total of 356.
- Same period of 2025: Comparison baseline of 370 homicides.
- Same period of 2024: Comparison baseline of 510 homicides.
Seasonal Patterns
Chicago's 2026 homicide total of 356 through October sits 154 below the 2024 comparison of 510, extending a two-year decline in the Police Department's year-over-year series. The reduction in the Police Department's own data marks a continued departure from the higher 2024 level.
Residents of Chicago neighborhoods are seeing fewer homicides and shootings than in recent years, though the city still records hundreds of shooting victims annually. Declines in robberies, burglaries, and carjackings reflect a lower rate of property crime affecting local businesses and households.
The takeaway
Monthly and year-to-date police data offer a useful way to track whether violence trends in Chicago are sustained. Readers can compare the Chicago Police Department's published figures across periods to see how neighborhood-level conditions change over time.
Further reading
Explore more on Violence in Chicago.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WTTW News.
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