articleThe Brief New data collected from major cities across the nation show that homicides have dropped sharply in the first half of 2026. The mid-year report, which examined crime trends in 30 U.S. cities, found homicides fell 18% this year compared with the same period in 2025. New data collected from major cities across the nation show that homicides have dropped sharply in the first half of 2026, part of a continuing three-year decline in violent crime. The findings align with federal data that showed national violent crime fell in 2023 and 2024 and appears to be continuing that decline into 2026. Despite those cities seeing sharp increases in homicides, violent crime in general has become less deadly.