Baltimore Sees Continued Decline in Violent Crime

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Baltimore experienced a more than 23 percent drop in homicides through May 2026 compared to the previous year, with overall violent crime also decreasing across several categories. City leaders credited targeted policing, community partnerships, and violence interruption programs like Safe Streets for the continued reductions and plan to expand these initiatives to further improve public safety.

Baltimore continued to see a decline in violent crime through May 2026, with homicides decreasing by more than 23 percent compared to the same period last year, city officials reported. As of June 1, there were 40 homicides and 120 nonfatal shootings recorded in 2026, in contrast to 52 homicides and 121 nonfatal shootings through the first five months of 2025. These figures reflect a sustained downward trend in lethal violence that city leaders say has resulted in some of Baltimore’s lowest homicide totals in decades.

Mayor Brandon Scott attributed the improvements to a combination of focused policing, violence interruption initiatives, and strengthened community partnerships. “We still see too many people turning to guns to solve conflicts, and one life lost to violence in our city is one too many,” Scott said. He emphasized the city’s ongoing commitment to investing in these strategies and building upon the progress made.

A significant component of Baltimore’s approach has been the Safe Streets program, a community-run effort that prioritizes mediation and alternatives to incarceration for reducing gun violence. A recent study by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Violence Solutions linked the city’s violence interruption activities to a 42 percent decrease in homicides among residents aged 15 to 24 between 2007 and 2023. The study also found a 21 percent decline in nonfatal shootings in this age group over the same period.

Among the neighborhoods showing notable improvement is Penn North, historically known for high levels of drug-related violence, which has gone more than a year without a homicide. Despite this milestone, Scott cautioned against complacency, viewing the progress as motivation to continue efforts to reduce violence.

In addition to the decline in shootings and homicides, other categories of crime have also fallen. Year-to-date comparisons with 2025 show carjackings down 45 percent, burglaries reduced by 16 percent, vehicle thefts declining 6 percent, and robberies dropping 14 percent.

City officials continue to focus on expanding programs aimed at saving lives and enhancing safety across Baltimore neighborhoods, while acknowledging that challenges remain in fully addressing the root causes of violence.