New Orleans has recorded a substantial decline in violent crime so far this year, city and council data show, even as officials warn that gun violence remains a persistent threat.
Fewer killings year to date
By July 1, New Orleans had logged 33 homicides in 2026, compared with 39 at the same point in 2025 — a roughly 15% decrease. Most of those killings involve firearms, and officials say the city is still confronting the risks posed by shootings.
“Although this is a very unfortunate situation, our crime trends are dramatically going down,”
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said June 25, noting the reduction even after a late-June triple shooting on Franklin Avenue that sent three people to the hospital.
Strategies and voices behind the trend
Police social media posts in late June signaled optimism, stating that violent crime had dropped to levels not seen in decades. The department described its work as more than enforcement-focused, emphasizing efforts intended to interrupt cycles of violence.
Community organizations also play a role in the city’s response. Ernest Johnson, director of the nonprofit Ubuntu Village, described the organization’s approach to violence intervention as rooted in community connection and support for victims to reduce retaliation and further harm.
“Ubuntu means ‘I am because we are’. It is a reflection of humanity, and it indicates that we all have a common connection,”
Historical context
Recent years have seen wide swings in New Orleans’ firearm homicides. City Council data and consulting analysis cited by local reporting show the following:
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Homicides by July 1, 2026 | 33 |
| Homicides by July 1, 2025 | 39 |
| Firearm homicides in 2025 (full year) | 83 |
| Average annual gun-related homicides (previous 14 years) | 153 |
| Peak gun homicides (2022) | 240 |
| Murders in 1969 | 77 |
Limits and next steps
Officials caution that gains can be fragile: the June shooting on Franklin Avenue underscored how quickly violence can reignite. The New Orleans Police Department did not make personnel available for a detailed interview about specific tactics when asked, according to reporting.
Advocates and police point to a mix of violence-intervention services, community outreach and nontraditional responses aimed at breaking cycles that lead to retaliation and repeat shootings. Those efforts remain central to city leaders’ stated plans for sustaining the downward trend while addressing ongoing concerns about access to guns and the concentration of violence in certain neighborhoods.
While year-to-date figures show improvement, officials and community groups alike say continued attention and coordination will be required to maintain the progress and to reduce the harm of gun violence across New Orleans.
