Crime & Law
Shootings, Homicides Continue to Decline Across Chicago in 2026: Police
(WTTW News)
After a year of historic declines in violence across Chicago, the city has begun 2026 with further drops in the number of shootings and homicides.
According to Chicago Police Department data, there were 29 homicides recorded throughout the city in January. That’s the second lowest total for that month over the past decade — trailing only 2019 when there were 23 homicides — and marks a 29% decrease over January 2025 (41 homicides).
The total number of shootings recorded last month also dropped slightly year-over-year, according to the CPD, falling from 112 in January 2025 to 101 in January 2026. The overall number of shooting victims remained nearly the same, with 123 people shot last month compared to 126 people shot in January 2025.
Chicago closed out 2025 with 416 homicides recorded, the city’s lowest total since 1965, and a drop of 171 homicides compared to 2024.
Police Supt. Larry Snelling credited his department’s collaborative work across bureaus with helping drive down violence levels.
“This collaboration is focused on seeking justice for victims and preventing additional crimes from happening,” Snelling said in a statement. “Rather than work in silos, our bureaus are working together to combat violence through more comprehensive investigations and on-the-ground missions.”
According to CPD data, total robberies are down 31% year-over-year and robberies involving a firearm are down 39%. Overall violent crime citywide is down 15% compared to last January, the CPD said, while property crime has dropped 16%.
Police officers also recovered more than 800 firearms in January, an average of more than 26 per day.
