Homicides, violent crime continue to decline in Indianapolis
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Homicide rates continued to drop in major U.S. cities — including Indianapolis — during the first nine months of the year, according to new data reviewed by Axios.
Why it matters: President Trump has sent, or threatened to send, National Guard troops to what he calls "hellhole" cities to fight escalating crime, and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita wants Indy added to the list.
Driving the news: Data from 67 law enforcement agencies nationwide showed an overall decline in homicides of 19% as of the end of September when compared to the same period in 2024, according to stats released this month by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
By the numbers: During that time, Indianapolis saw a 22% decrease in homicides year-over-year.
- Robberies were down 15%, aggravated assaults were down 22% and rapes were down 10%.
Zoom in: In updated statistics shared with Axios last week, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is reporting a 25% drop in murders as of the start of November when compared to last year, and a 55% percent drop when compared to 2021.
- Non-fatal shootings are down nearly 16% annually, and overall violent crime has decreased by 20%.
- "We've made significant progress in reducing every category of crime. But there's still a lot of work to do," IMPD chief Chris Bailey told Axios. "We just have to keep it going. It can change in an instant, so we're not to rest on our laurels."
State of play: The stats are the latest signs that crime in America is starkly different from what Republican leaders describe.
- Rokita called for National Guard intervention in the wake of a recent violent weekend, saying: "It's shameful that this is a regular occurrence and even more shameful that the leadership here refuses to do anything about it."
- Yes, but: Trump has not indicated that Indianapolis is on his list of targeted cities.
Zoom out: The gap between rhetoric and reality was also on display following the downtown stabbing of former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez.
- Gov. Mike Braun and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith quickly reacted to the incident on social media by criticizing Indianapolis leaders for declining public safety.
- Braun said that "Hoosiers deserve better," and Beckwith said: "Indianapolis is sliding into lawlessness."
- Those posts were deleted when it was revealed that Sanchez was arrested and charged with a felony for his role in the altercation.
What they're saying: Bailey said he has great respect for the National Guard and that it is powered by "very special people," but "deploying those individuals into our city is just not necessary."
- "Our officers are doing a fantastic job under some pretty difficult circumstances, and they're pushing these crime stats down every single year over the last five years," he said.
State Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, took to social media to oppose the idea that Indy needs a National Guard takeover, writing that "political theater won't keep our families safe."
The bottom line: It's easy for Trump to cherry-pick crime statistics for a national audience, but it may be tougher for local politicians to spin that same narrative, especially as anti-crime measures seem to be working.