Major cities see violent crime surge as national rates plummet significantly in 2025: survey
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While the nation breathed a sigh of relief with a decline in violent crime in 2025, a closer look at certain U.S. cities reveals a more troubling picture. Despite the overall decrease, a new survey highlights that some cities have experienced a rise in homicides, rapes, robberies, or aggravated assaults, diverging from the positive national trend.

The Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) conducted a survey that spans from January to September of both 2024 and 2025. This survey meticulously tracks four primary categories of violent crime: homicide, rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Encouragingly, the survey indicates a nationwide reduction in violent crime across these categories when compared to the same timeframe in 2024. However, this data serves as a reminder that not every corner of the country shares this improvement.

  • Homicide: 4,143 (2025) vs. 5,126 (2024)
  • Rape: 20,407 vs. 21,728
  • Robbery: 66,501 vs. 81,860
  • Aggravated assault: 194,804 vs. 216,466
Police officers stand behind crime scene tape at scene of shooting in Omaha, Nebraska

In a stark illustration of ongoing challenges, Omaha police recently responded to a shooting at a QuikTrip gas station. The incident, which occurred on December 3, 2025, resulted in three officers being injured and the suspect being killed. This event underscores the persistent issues some cities face.

It is important to note that the MCCA stressed the preliminary nature of these numbers, as the data relies on voluntary submissions from participating law enforcement agencies. This caveat highlights the complexity of crime statistics and the need for continued vigilance and comprehensive reporting.

Here’s a list of cities and metropolitan areas where violent crime rose locally despite a nationwide decline.

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha reported increases in all four violent crime categories; homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, according to MCCA data.

Police and emergency workers gather in Atlanta

Police gather in Atlanta on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta saw year-over-year increases in rape, robbery and aggravated assault, bucking national declines across those categories.

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus reported increases in robbery and aggravated assault, even as both crimes fell nationally.

Los Angeles County, California

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported increases in rape and aggravated assault from 2024 into 2025, according to preliminary data from the MCCA survey.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa recorded increases in rape and robbery, two categories that declined nationwide during the same period.

Suffolk County, New York

The suburban county east of New York City reported increases in homicide and robbery.

A police vehicle and police tape at a crime scene

Suffolk County Police respond to a crime scene. (Fox 5 NY)

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita saw year-over-year increases in homicide and rape, reversing the national trend in both categories.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh reported increases in rape and aggravated assault, while other violent crime categories declined.

Denver, Colorado

Denver recorded an increase in rape, according to the MCCA.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia saw a rise in rape, even as national violent crime totals continued to decline.

WATCH: Violence hits Chicago, NYC as blue-city crime policies spark outrage

Violent crime is trending downward in major U.S. cities as President Donald Trump continues to focus federal attention on combating violent crime.

The administration has launched crime operations in cities across America, including Washington, D.C., where he first deployed the National Guard to assist local police earlier this year.

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