Columbus is yet again seeing fewer homicides six months into 2026 compared to the year before.
As of Monday, Columbus police have investigated 35 homicides this year compared to 40 at this same time last year. In 2025, the city ended the year with just over 80 homicides, meaning this year the city is on track to be under triple digits yet again.
Last year was the first time in over a decade that Columbus kept the number of homicides under triple digits. At the time, it was celebrated by community activists, police and city officials, while groups also acknowledged more work needs to be done.
Homicides have dropped by over half since the city experienced a record number in 2021. By this time that year, there was already more than 100 homicides.
So far in 2026, over half of the cases involve domestic violence or an argument, according to Columbus Division of Police data.
CPD data shows 25 of the victims were shot, but CPD also reports it has investigated fewer shootings overall compared with last year. CPD has also investigated fewer felony assault cases than the previous two years.
CPD says it has solved more than 80% of homicide cases this year and an additional 10 from previous years. Of these cases, 33 are considered murder or non-negligent homicide cases; one was investigated as negligent manslaughter, and the other was considered a "justified homicide" or self defense by CPD.
Columbus' trend also coincides with national homicide trends. NPR reported that the United States recorded what is likely the lowest homicide rate nationally since the FBI began recording the statistic in the 1950s.
