U.S. Homicide Rates by City: Trump Declares Public Emergency as Crime Patterns Shift

A map prepared by Newsweek has shown homicide rates in several U.S. cities, following President Donald Trump’s declaration of a public emergency in Washington, D.C., and his hints at potential federal interventions in other cities to address violence.

St. Louis, Missouri, topped the list with 69.4 homicides per 100,000 residents, followed by Baltimore (Maryland) with 51.1, New Orleans (Louisiana) with 40.6, Detroit (Michigan) with 39.7, Cleveland (Ohio) with 33.7, Las Vegas (Nevada) with 31.4, Kansas City (Missouri) with 31.2, Memphis (Tennessee) with 27.1, Newark (New Jersey) with 25.6, and Chicago (Illinois) with 24.0. Washington, D.C., ranked 19th with 17.0 homicides per 100,000 residents.

The data, compiled by the “Liberty for All Americans” organization, relied on various sources, including local police reports and public safety databases. However, it does not represent a complete national picture for 2024.

Trump pointed to cities like Baltimore and Chicago as potential candidates for federal intervention, while also criticizing cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and Oakland. In a press conference, he stated: “We will not allow our cities to fall into this situation.”

In contrast, local officials in Washington criticized the president’s move, noting that violent crime in the capital dropped to its lowest level in 30 years in 2024, with an additional 26% decline since the start of 2025.

Researchers at the “Council on Criminal Justice” reported that homicide rates decreased by 16% across 40 U.S. cities in 2024. Detroit’s mayor’s office also announced that the city is recording its lowest homicide and robbery rates in over half a century, thanks to strong cooperation with federal authorities.

Despite the overall decline in some areas, crime rates remain uneven from city to city, making it essential to monitor developments in the coming period.