NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans recorded 22 murders from May through August 2026, the lowest total for that four-month period in at least eight years, according to statistics released by the New Orleans Police Department.
The 22 murders represent a 46% decrease from the same period in 2025, when the city recorded 41 murders. The latest total is also substantially lower than 2022, when 100 murders were reported between May and August.
Murders from May through August
| Year | May | June | July | August | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 46 |
| 2020 | 12 | 18 | 25 | 16 | 71 |
| 2021 | 18 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 77 |
| 2022 | 24 | 33 | 19 | 24 | 100 |
| 2023 | 20 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 68 |
| 2024 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 41 |
| 2025 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 41 |
| 2026 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 22 |
Statistics compiled by the NOPD Analytics Unit.
NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the decline reflects the department’s strategy of concentrating officers and resources in areas where violence is occurring while using intelligence, technology and partnerships to prevent additional crimes.
Kirkpatrick said the department recognizes that 22 murders are still too many, but believes the downward trend shows progress.
NOPD said its current strategy focuses on individuals and locations associated with violent crime. The department is also working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on coordinated enforcement efforts.
Recent initiatives, including Operation Golden Eagle, are part of the department’s broader effort to reduce violent crime across New Orleans.
NOPD said it plans to continue those efforts as it works to maintain the decline in murders and other violent crimes.