NYC Homicides Rise 24.5% as Major Cities Fall

Major Cities Chiefs Association data show New York City's homicide rate climbed in the first nine months of 2026 while the average across large U.S. cities dropped.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Violence

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a silhouetted cluster of tall city towers against a muted grey dusk sky across a river. — New York City homicides rose 24.5 percent in the first nine months of 2026 while the average across large U.S. cities fell 15.2 percent, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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New York City homicides rose 24.5 percent in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to a report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. The average homicide rate across large U.S. cities fell 15.2 percent over the same timeframe.

Why it matters

The divergence shows that the national decline in homicides did not reach every major city, and New York City's rise stands out against the broader trend. The report also shows total violent crime in the city rose 5.1 percent, meaning the increase extends beyond homicides for New York residents.

The Major Cities Chiefs Association report compares the first nine months of 2026 with the same period in 2025. Fifty-one of 66 reporting agencies recorded declines in overall crime, but San Diego homicides rose 45.2 percent and Las Vegas homicides rose 23.4 percent.

The players

Major Cities Chiefs Association

A professional association of police chiefs from major American cities that compiles and publishes crime statistics across participating agencies.

Zohran Mamdani

A New York City public official whose office is part of the city government responding to rising crime figures in the city.

The details

The report found homicides fell across 49 districts while robberies rose 14.2 percent in New York City. Washington, DC homicides fell just under 30 percent, though robberies there increased 41.1 percent.

- January through September 2025: baseline period for the comparison
- January through September 2026: period in which New York City homicides rose 24.5 percent
- November 12, 2026: date the crime figures were reported

Season Trajectory

The Major Cities Chiefs Association's 2026 comparison shows homicides falling across most reporting cities, making New York City's 24.5 percent increase an outlier in the national pattern. The report indicates that 51 of 66 agencies recorded overall crime declines, so the city's rise departs from the majority trend.

Residents in New York City are affected by a 14.2 percent increase in robberies and a 5.1 percent rise in total violent crime during the period. Those living in the city may see the effects of these trends in neighborhood safety and local policing decisions.

The takeaway

Crime trends can differ sharply between cities even when the national average falls, so local figures often tell a different story than aggregate statistics. Readers following public safety in New York City can compare the city's data against the broader association report to see where the changes are concentrated.