Chicago’s Crime Rates Continue to Decline in Early 2026
Chicago, IL — February 3, 2026 — Shootings and homicides have decreased in Chicago, with 29 homicides in January, a 29% drop from last year.
Crime Rates Continue to Decline in Chicago
Chicago has seen a significant reduction in violent crime as the city enters 2026. According to the Chicago Police Department, there were 29 homicides recorded in January, marking a 29% decrease from the 41 homicides reported in January 2025. This is the second-lowest January homicide total in the past decade, following 2019, which had 23 homicides.
The number of shootings also declined slightly, with 101 incidents in January 2026 compared to 112 in the same month last year. The total number of shooting victims remained nearly the same, with 123 people shot last month compared to 126 in January 2025.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling attributed the decline to enhanced collaboration across various police bureaus, focusing on comprehensive investigations and proactive missions to combat violence. He emphasized the importance of working together to seek justice for victims and prevent further crimes.
In addition to the decrease in homicides and shootings, overall violent crime citywide dropped by 15% compared to last January, and property crime decreased by 16%. The police also recovered more than 800 firearms in January, averaging over 26 per day.
