Homicides continue to decline in Portland
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Homicide rates continued to drop in major U.S. cities — including Portland — 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. But the latest numbers show homicides in several of those cities are dropping dramatically.
- "Portland is making meaningful progress in reducing gun violence, and that momentum reflects the strength of our community," Mayor Keith Wilson told Axios.
By the numbers: Portland, a city Trump frequently has criticized as "like living in hell," reported a 39% decrease in homicides so far this year, the Axios review found.
- It's not just homicides. Non-fatal shooting incidents are down 38% and non-injury shootings dropped 31%
- Total shooting incidents decreased by a third through the end of September, compared to the same period for 2024, per a city dashboard.
- Wilson attributed the continued decline to increased collaboration between police and community partners, as well as the strengthening of Portland Ceasefire, a program that uses a harm-reduction approach to address violence before it happens.
Zoom out: Reports from 67 law enforcement agencies nationwide showed an overall decline in homicides of 19% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
- An Axios analysis of the MCCA data found that Buffalo, N.Y., Denver, Orlando, Florida, and Seattle all saw more than 40% declines in homicides during that period.
- Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago and Las Vegas were among the cities that had drops of 25% or more in homicides.
State of play: The stats are the latest signs that violent crime in America is starkly different from what Trump cites as his reason for sending federal troops to Portland, Chicago, D.C., Memphis and cities in California.
What they're saying: "Any loss of life is a tragedy for our community, and it's something that should never just be a number," police chief Bob Day told Axios. "However, sometimes numbers tell a story."
- "This is not just a testament to the good work by the members of the Portland Police Bureau but also our efforts around Ceasefire, and collaboration with the Office of Violence Prevention and the many dedicated outreach workers who are partnering with us."
What's next: A federal district court judge ruled last week that the Trump administration exceeded its authority when it ordered troops to Portland.
- A panel of 11 judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to consider an appeal of the case.