A drop in murders

Despite the grim headlines, 2022 is less violent so far than last year.

Crimes, murders and mass shootings dominated the headlines this year. Just over the weekend, a shooting in Cincinnati injured nine people, and another in Detroit killed one and injured four.

But the data Comprehensive crime reports tell a different story. Nationwide, shootings are down 4% this year compared to the same time last year. In major cities, murders were down 3%. If the decline in murders continues for the remainder of 2022, it will be the first year since 2018 in which they have fallen in the United States.

Annual U.S. Murder Rates. 10 murders per 100,000 inhabitants

2022

(estimate)

6.7

8

6

4

2

1990

2000

2010

2020

10 murders per 100,000 inhabitants