Newly released statistics from the Columbus Police Department show that Columbus is experiencing its lowest level of Part 1 crime in at least the past 10 years, even as several recent shootings have raised concerns among residents.
The data compares crime totals from January 1 through July 15 of each year from 2016 through 2026. According to the report, Columbus recorded 678 Part 1 crimes during the first six-and-a-half months of 2026, the lowest total during that time period in the past decade.
Part 1 crimes include murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.
By comparison, Columbus recorded:
- 1,010 Part 1 crimes through July 15, 2025
- 1,334 in 2024
- 1,526 in 2023
- 1,656 in 2022
- 2,180 in 2017, the highest total in the report
The 2026 total represents a decrease of approximately 33 percent from the same period last year and nearly 69 percent lower than the peak recorded in 2017.
Several major crime categories also showed declines compared to 2025:
The report was prepared by the Columbus Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit and released on July 16.
Recent Shootings Draw Attention
The declining crime numbers come despite a series of high-profile shootings that have occurred across Columbus in recent months.
Since May 1, CNAW2News has documented at least 24 reported shooting incidents across the city. Those incidents resulted in:
- 8 people killed
- 21 civilians injured
- 1 Columbus police officer injured
- 1 police K-9 injured
The incidents included shootings on 38th Street, Merrywood Drive, Braselman Avenue, 13th Avenue, Lakeside Drive, Beacon Avenue, Ford Drive, Hamilton Road, Cusseta Road, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Thomas Street, McCartha Drive, Delta Street, Marathon Drive, Baker Plaza Drive, Victory Drive, Henson Avenue, Bradley Park Drive, Apex Road, Little Drive, Mesa Street and Curtis Street.
Several of those shootings were fatal, including incidents on Merrywood Drive, McCartha Drive, Delta Street, Marathon Drive, Baker Plaza Drive, Apex Road, Little Drive and Curtis Street.
The June 23 shooting on Baker Plaza Drive also left a Columbus police officer and K-9 Havoc wounded during an encounter with a suspect connected to the fatal shooting of Dollar General employee Alexis Hill.
Chief: Trends Continue to Move in the Right Direction
During a recent interview with CNAW2News, Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis said residents’ concerns about gun violence are understandable, but the long-term numbers show significant progress.
“When I first came to Columbus, the year before I came here, we had like 75 homicides,” Mathis said. “At this time that same year, there were about 35. Right now we’re at seven. Last year right now we were at 15.”
Mathis said homicide numbers have dropped significantly and that aggravated assaults have followed a similar trend.
“Crime typically goes up in the summertime,” Mathis said. “It’s hot, people, kids are out of school. Crime typically goes up. But with the curfew that we put in place and the other things that we’re trying to do for the rest of the city, we’re trying to get that trajectory to continue to go down.”
The chief said overall Part 1 crime has fallen approximately 37 percent since he took office, while violent crime and other major offenses have declined by roughly 50 percent.
Targeting Crime Hotspots
Mathis credited officers and data-driven policing strategies for helping reduce crime.
The department uses predictive analytics to identify crime hotspots and shifts officers into areas where crime is increasing.
“We run those numbers daily,” Mathis said. “When there’s some crime happening in this area, the prudent thing to do is stick a police officer right there because that’ll reduce crime.”
According to Mathis, the strategy often forces offenders to move away from areas with a visible police presence, allowing officers to identify emerging trends and respond quickly.
High Clearance Rates
Mathis also highlighted the department’s success in solving violent crimes.
“Every one of the homicides we’ve had this year, we’ve got people in custody,” Mathis said in an interview on July 7.
The chief said suspects in homicide cases are often identified and arrested within days.
“If you commit murder in the city of Columbus, you have a 99% chance of getting caught and we will come after you,” he said.
Looking Ahead
While recent shootings have generated significant public concern and headlines across Columbus, police officials say those incidents do not reflect the broader crime trends shown in the department’s statistics.
The newly released figures indicate that overall Part 1 crime continues to decline, with Columbus currently on pace to record its lowest crime rate in at least a decade.