NYC Murders Fall to Record Low in First Half of 2026

New York City recorded 122 murders in the first six months of 2026, the lowest total for any comparable period in city history, according to NYPD statistics released Thursday. The figure marks a nearly 25 percent decline from 162 murders in the same span last year and falls below the previous record of 136 set in 2017.

Shootings totaled 322 incidents, below the prior low of 337 recorded in both 2018 and 2025. Burglaries fell nearly 16 percent to 5,354, while robberies dropped 12 percent to 6,387. Major crime in public housing developments declined 9 percent to 2,659 incidents. Transit crime decreased nearly 2 percent to 231 incidents, reaching the lowest level since 2009.

The Bronx reported the largest reduction among the five boroughs, with a 12 percent drop to 13,434 total crimes. Officials attributed part of the improvement to the creation of two separate patrol commands and the addition of 200 officers in the borough.

Rapes rose nearly 6 percent to 1,066 incidents. Officials noted that a September 2024 change in state law expanded the legal definition of rape and that underreporting of sexual assaults continues. Hate crimes increased to 322 incidents from 299 last year, with antisemitic cases accounting for 55 percent of the total.

The mayor stated that Jewish residents make up 10 percent of the city population yet represent more than half of confirmed hate-crime victims. The mayor also said the recently passed city budget increased hate-crime prevention funding by more than 800 percent.