Chicago's Homicides Hit Lowest May Level in Decades as Annual Shooting Count Stays Below 2,000

Chicago recorded 36 homicides in May 2026, two fewer than May 2025. The decline extends a measurable trend: the city logged fewer than 2,000 shootings in 2025, the first time this century. Summer 2025 saw the fewest homicides in 60 years. Yet a Juneteenth weekend shooting drew national attention, testing whether public perception will track with aggregate data or focus on singular incidents during high-visibility moments.