Homicide rates in the US are nearing a historic low

Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Kadia Tubman, KXXV (ABC 25) News · July 23, 2026 · 2 min read

In Baltimores Penn North neighborhood, a recent community event marked a major milestone in its work to curb violence: 365 days without a homicide. The murder rate in Baltimore is down 23 percent in the first half of this year, and its not alone. Richmond, Virginia; Detroit, Michigan and Colorado...

Why this matters in The Waco

The decline in homicide rates across major US cities has implications for Waco, where community leaders and law enforcement have been working to address violence. While the story doesn't provide specific data on Waco's homicide rate, the national trend could inform local strategies to curb violence. The injection of funds from the American Rescue Plan into local governments, including potentially Waco's, may have contributed to the decline in homicide rates in other cities. If Waco has utilized similar funding to boost law enforcement and social programs, it will be worth monitoring whether the city sees a corresponding decline in violence. Additionally, the fact that the decline is part of a trend that started during the pandemic suggests that Waco's efforts to address the root causes of violence, such as poverty and lack of access to mental health resources, may be bearing fruit.

About this story

Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News. The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News · Reading time: 2 min

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This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.

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Summary created by	The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Kadia Tubman, KXXV (ABC 25) News
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 23, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 24, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Homicide rates in the US are nearing a historic low

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