Chicago saw 416 murders last year. In 1965, there were 395 murders.
Gun violence saw a steep drop from 2024.
There were 2,274 shooting incidents in 2024, compared to 1,471 in 2025.
There were 2,797 shooting victims in 2024 and 1,847 victims in 2025.
There were 587 murders in 2024.
Chicago police said the preliminary data could change slightly, but violent crime overall is significantly down in Chicago.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling says there are many factors involved.
"Our partnerships, everyone working together, across the board, internally within the Chicago Police Department, top-down leadership, intelligence-driven policing," Snelling said.
A University of Chicago Crime Lab analysis of this year's crime statistics found violent crime was down, not just in Chicago, but in many other big cities, too.
"The honest answer is we don't know exactly why crime is down. There has been a lot happening in the last few years, as we're all aware, a lot of economic, social, institutional factors. They're all changing at the same time," said Kim Smith, with the University of Chicago Crime Lab.
The study suggested that Chicago's decline in violent crime may not be due to specific things happening locally. But violence prevention groups believe their efforts are helping make a difference.
"One shooting, or one, you know, murder is one too many. But when you think about over a 10 years, a concerted effort to reduce violence, it's moving in the direction that we expect," said Domonique McCord, with Metropolitan Peace Academy.
The mayor believes critical investments are paying off.
"So, whether it's the partnerships or the investments, that's necessary. That's investments in youth employment, mental and behavioral health care services and support. But it also means that we have to invest in the divisions of policing that are strategic," Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
There are some concerns that with the reduction in federal dollars for community violence intervention programs, the downward trends may not continue in 2026.
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