Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson claims historic decline in city violence

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has claimed that the city is experiencing a historic decline in violence. During a press conference and via social media, Johnson stated that the city has sustained the fewest number of homicides since 1965.

Data provided by the mayor’s office indicates that between June 1 and August 31, 2026, Chicago recorded 122 homicide victims, compared to 129 during the same period in 2025. The mayor also noted a downward trend in citywide violent crime over the last three years, with figures dropping from 18,759 in 2024 to 13,792 in 2026.

Johnson attributed these reductions to increased collaboration between the Chicago Police Department and Community Violence Interrupters (CVIs). He expressed a goal to expand this framework to every district in the city. However, news reports noted that data teams were unable to independently verify homicide figures dating back to 1965, and the mayor's claims have faced criticism from online users regarding ongoing safety concerns.