Pittsburgh-area homicides drop to 18-year low
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Police tape in Pittsburgh in 2018. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Homicides in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh saw a stark drop-off last year, with some of the lowest annual totals since the county began tracking monthly homicide totals nearly two decades ago.
Why it matters: The stats were yet another sign that violent crime in the region was declining, further countering narratives that the city and some boroughs were getting more dangerous.
The big picture: Allegheny County reported 65 homicide cases for 2025, a decline from 109 in 2024, according to the medical examiner's office.
- That's the lowest annual homicide figure Allegheny County has posted since 2007, the earliest year the county started tracking homicides.
- County homicides in 2025 dropped 40% compared with 2024.
- Last year's totals were a 46% drop compared with 2022, the county's high-water mark for annual homicides.
Zoom in: Homicides within the city of Pittsburgh declined from 42 in 2024 to 35 in 2025 — a 17% decrease, according to a report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
Zoom out: Homicides dropped overall by 19% in big cities nationwide between 2024 and 2025, according to the MCCA report, which features data from 67 of the nation's biggest police departments.
- Florida cities Orlando and Tampa headlined the list with more than a 50% decline in homicides, according to the Axios review.
What they're saying: Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato credits the county's approach of using trusted community members in violence interruption work; increasing investment in police detective work; and funding services including affordable housing and mental health calls.
- "It really is a whole holistic approach to reducing community violence," she said.
Follow the money: The county began investing $50 million over a five-year period starting in 2023, after violent crime rates spiked.
Between the lines: Allegheny County Police assistant superintendent Vic Joseph said the county has been successful in getting illegal firearms off the street and closing homicide cases at a high rate.
- County police seized 127 illegal firearms in 2025, which is 25 more than in 2024, said Joseph.
- County police have made arrests in 78% of last year's homicide cases, and they made arrests in 88% of cases in 2024.
- The national homicide clearance rate was 61% in 2024, according to the FBI.
Pittsburgh police chief Jason Lando said the city's reduction in homicide rates is two-pronged: improved tracking of individuals with a violent record and known for carrying firearms, and working with violence interruption groups, such as REACH, that help to defuse conflicts before they escalate into violence.
The bottom line: Local officials laud their efforts but also acknowledge there are factors beyond their control. National experts aren't sure why violent crime continues to fall.
- One study suggested that the homicide surge of 2020 was driven largely by men and teen boys who were either laid off or saw their schools close during pandemic shutdowns.