There was a near 30% surge in homicides in the United States in 2020, the largest one-year increase ever recorded. Homicides increased once again in 2021, but by a smaller, 6% margin. Preliminary data from 2022 suggests that murders may finally be declining.
There are a total of 91 U.S. cities with populations of at least 250,000, an average of 10 homicides per year, or both that have also published 2022 homicide data. Based on early reports from police departments in these cities, homicides are down by about 3% compared to the same period last year.
While these early figures are encouraging, there are still several large American cities where murders have increased in 2022. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, for example, there have been 41 murders reported from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2022, up from the 32 homicides that were reported in the city over the same period in 2021.
The 28.1% year-over-year increase in homicides in Tulsa ranks as the eighth highest of the 91 cities reviewed.
All homicide data used in this story is preliminary and not necessarily indicative of how 2022 will compare to previous years' homicide data by the time annual homicide data are finalized.
RankCityYoY change in homicides (%)2022 murders, YTD2021 murders, YTDYTD range; 2021 & 20221Virginia Beach, VA114.3157Jan. 1 - Aug. 92Colorado Springs, CO100.02613Jan. 1 - Aug. 143Chula Vista, CA66.753Jan. 1 - June 304Honolulu, HI36.41511Jan. 1 - June 305Aurora, CO35.32317Jan. 1 - June 306Milwaukee, WI34.6148110Jan. 1 - Aug. 97New Orleans, LA28.4172134Jan. 1 - Aug. 148Tulsa, OK28.14132Jan. 1 - June 309Raleigh, NC26.71915Jan. 1 - June 3010Phoenix, AZ25.611390Jan. 1 - June 3011Birmingham, AL23.47964Jan. 1 - Aug. 712Denver, CO23.35343Jan. 1 - June 3013Little Rock, AR22.54940Jan. 1 - Aug. 814Stockton, CA21.12319Jan. 1 - June 3015Lexington, KY20.82924Jan. 1 - Aug. 1316Pittsburgh, PA19.43731Jan. 1 - June 3017San Antonio, TX18.23933Jan. 1 - March 3118Long Beach, CA15.82219Jan. 1 - June 3019San Diego, CA15.43026Jan. 1 - June 3020Tampa, FL13.02623Jan. 1 - June 3021Spokane, WA12.598Jan. 1 - Aug. 1322Dallas, TX12.2147131Jan. 1 - Aug. 1523Baltimore, MD9.6218199Jan. 1 - Aug. 624Washington, DC8.9134123Jan. 1 - Aug. 1525Greensboro, NC8.72523Jan. 1 - July 3126Charlotte, NC8.55147Jan. 1 - June 3027Jacksonville, FL6.07167Jan. 1 - Aug. 328Atlanta, GA5.69590Jan. 1 - Aug. 6
via Oklahoma's Center Square News