Evidence markers next to shell casings at the scene of a fatal shooting. Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
Homicides — and other violent crimes — declined during the first six months of the year in Dallas, according to new data from an organization of law enforcement executives.
Why it matters: Reports from major law enforcement agencies and new FBI numbers released this week show violent crime could be heading to modern record lows nationwide.
The rest of America is catching up to declines in crime seen in Dallas even during spikes elsewhere, the stats show.
The big picture: The U.S. had a violent crime rate of 359.1 per 100,000 residents last year, the FBI said.
It's the lowest violent crime rate the nation has had since 2014, when it was 372.4 per 100,000 residents, an Axios analysis found.
Meanwhile, the nation's property crime rate dropped to a 20-year low of 1760.1 per 100,000 residents last year, according to an Axios analysis of FBI numbers.
Zoom in: Dallas — like Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle — saw a decline of more than 30% in homicides in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024, according to stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
While the number of homicides increased in Arlington and Fort Worth this year, overall violent crime dropped.
Rape was down 28%, robbery decreased 8% and aggravated assaults fell 21% in Fort Worth. In Dallas, rape decreased 13%, robbery dropped 13% and aggravated assaults declined 15%
Context: The quarterly reports from MCCA typically have been a good measure of trends that are reflected in the annual FBI crime data released a year later.
What we're watching: Who Fort Worth hires to be the next police chief.
Eddie Garcia, the former chief of police in Dallas, is a finalist. He and other finalists, including former Dallas deputy chief Vernon Hale, will answer questions at a public forum next week.
