Louisville tops Chicago, Los Angeles in per capita homicides, FBI data shows

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- New FBI data reveals Louisville had more people killed per capita in 2024 than both Chicago and Los Angeles.

The lengthy FBI report shows Louisville ranked 15th in the nation for homicide rate per capita in 2024 among cities with populations of more than 100,000 people. It's important to note this data is based on what agencies report to the FBI. The FBI said 82% of the U.S. population is covered.

For every 100,000 people in Louisville, 22 die by homicide. Louisville tops Chicago by 5 percentage points and triples Los Angeles' rate.

Below is a look at the full top 50:

The top five cities for homicide rate were Birmingham, Alabama; St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Baltimore, Maryland; and Detroit, Michigan. Louisville sits at 15th — sandwiched between Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

Boston and Louisville have similar population sizes. Last year, Boston had 24 homicides, according to FBI data. Louisville had nearly 125 more.

There is some good news: Homicides have fallen steadily over the past four years in Louisville, from 177 in 2021 to 142 last year. This year, the city has recorded 82 homicides so far — a 27% drop from this time last year.

When asked what the ranking says about the state of gun violence in the city, a Louisville Metro Police spokesperson pointed to progress:

"While it's true that Louisville has faced significant challenges with gun violence in recent years, it's important to recognize the progress we've made. According to our latest data, violent crime in all major categories has dropped by roughly 30%. This includes reductions in homicides, aggravated assaults, carjackings and robberies. These improvements reflect the hard work of our LMPD officers, community partners, and violence prevention initiatives within the Mayor's office."

Regarding the FBI report and comparisons to other large cities, LMPD said:

"Rankings like these don't always capture the full picture. Cities differ in population density, reporting practices, and local dynamics. Comparing Louisville to cities like Chicago, LA or New York can be misleading without proper context. What matters most is that we're seeing real, measurable progress here at home which we proactively display at the Chief's biweekly news conferences."

When asked about Louisville's ranking compared with Washington, D.C., where the National Guard was deployed, and whether extra federal support might be needed here, LMPD said:

"As for federal support, LMPD maintains strong partnerships with our local federal agencies and regularly collaborates on joint operations and task forces. At this time, we do not foresee a scenario requiring the deployment of the National Guard. Our focus remains on community-based strategies, targeted enforcement referenced in LMPD's Crime Plan, and building trust with the residents we serve."

Louisville’s biggest and most exciting companies are increasingly being led from afar

Louisville firefighters honor 9/11 with stair climb, stories of sacrifice