Pittsburgh homicides drop to 8-year low
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Police tape in Pittsburgh in 2018. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Homicides in Pittsburgh fell 37% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024, new data shows.
Why it matters: The city's drop is among the steepest in the U.S., as violent crime in America continues to fall from pandemic-era highs, and local and state leaders are touting the stats as positive results from the anti-violence efforts.
- Local anti-violence efforts were launched in 2020, when homicides were on the rise, peaking at 71 in 2022.
- The city's Stop the Violence Community Investment Fund currently has around $15 million in taxpayer money, which is allocated to numerous grassroots groups to fight violence.
By the numbers: Pittsburgh saw 17 homicides between Jan. 1 and June 30, per stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), down from 27 in the first half of 2024.
- As of Aug. 7, the city reported 21 homicides so far this year — down 25% from the same time last year, per Pittsburgh's crimes dashboard. That means the city's homicide rate is at an 8-year low — down 19% from the previous low in 2019.
- The city had 42 total homicides in 2024, a 19% decrease from the year prior and close to a 2019 low of 38.
Catch up quick: The pandemic fueled a surge in gun violence across the country and in Pittsburgh.
- Anti-violence groups and city officials cited a mix of factors, including lifted pandemic restrictions after prolonged isolation, easy access to guns, and limited police presence in some neighborhoods.
What they're saying: Mayor Ed Gainey tells Axios the drop in homicides is "a meaningful sign of progress" and a testament to coordinated efforts between police, community outreach groups and proactive residents.
- Stop the Violence grant recipients include Cafe Momentum — a Downtown cafe that offers yearlong employment to at-risk kids — and Operation Better Block, a nonprofit focused on improving housing and community services in Homewood.
- "We still have more work to do … We remain focused, we remain united, and we remain deeply committed to a safer, stronger Pittsburgh for everyone."
Between the lines: Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a press release earlier this month the state has awarded $85 million in state crime prevention grants since 2023 — $13.5 to Pittsburgh — and those grants are helping to reduce gun violence and homicides.
Zoom in: Rape and aggravated assault in Pittsburgh rose slightly in the first half of the year, with 59 reported rapes compared to 55 last year, and 464 aggravated assaults compared to 446 last year.
The big picture: Violent and property crime rates in the U.S. hit a 20-year low in 2024 — countering President Trump's claims that immigration is driving a national crime wave, per Contreras.
What we're watching: Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor — who won the Democratic nomination for Pittsburgh mayor — tells Axios he plans to continue a comprehensive approach to violence prevention if he takes office next year.
- "Residents, workers, and visitors must feel safe in all of our neighborhoods for them to continue to grow and feel vibrant."