New York City recorded the fewest murders in the first six months of any year on record, with a nearly 25% decrease in homicides compared to the same period in 2025, according to new NYPD statistics. The city saw 122 murders through the end of June 2026, down from 162 in the first half of the previous year and below the previous record of 136 set in 2017.
This significant reduction in homicides occurred alongside an overall decrease in major crimes across the five boroughs, which fell by nearly 6% during the same period. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted the significance of these figures, particularly as the city hosted numerous large-scale events, including NBA title celebrations, FIFA World Cup games, and America250 commemorations.
"Those results would be significant in any year," Tisch stated. "But they’re especially significant now because New York City is in the middle of one of the busiest seasons that it has ever seen, with the NYPD managing some of the largest and most complex overlapping events in the country."
Declines Across Major Crime Categories
Beyond homicides, other major crime categories also saw substantial decreases. Shootings fell to 322 incidents by the end of June 2026, a new record low that surpassed the previous record of 337 set in 2018 and 2025. The number of shooting victims also decreased to 381, down from a high of 387 in 2025. Shooting incidents are now less than half of what they were five years prior during a period of increased crime in 2020.
Burglaries dropped by nearly 16%, with 5,354 incidents in the first half of 2026 compared to 6,359 in the same period last year. Robberies decreased by 12%, from 7,248 to 6,387. Major crimes in public housing also declined by 9%, with 2,659 reported incidents compared to 2,905 year-over-year.
Transit crime, which reached its lowest levels in 2025, saw a further nearly 2% dip in the first half of 2026, with 231 major crimes reported underground compared to 565 in the prior year. The Bronx, which has been a focus for the NYPD, is now leading the city in crime reduction, with a 12% overall decrease in reported crimes.
Persistent Concerns: Rapes and Hate Crimes
Despite the broad declines, two categories of crime continue to rise. Reported rapes increased by nearly 6%, with 1,066 incidents from January 1 to June 30, 2026, compared to 1,008 in the same span last year. Commissioner Tisch noted that this increase is partly attributed to a change in state law in September 2024 that expanded the definition of rape, though she acknowledged that victims still underreport sexual assaults.
Hate crimes also saw an increase, with 322 incidents reported by mid-2026, up from 299 in the same period of 2025. More than half of these incidents were antisemitic in nature. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that while Jewish New Yorkers represent 10% of the city's population, they accounted for 55% of all confirmed hate crimes. He affirmed the city's commitment to combating hatred and noted an increase of over 800% in hate crime prevention funding in the recent city budget.