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The Chicago Police Department released its official citywide crime report for May 2026 on Monday.
The newly public data shows a complex shift in neighborhood safety, with property crimes falling sharply while total gun violence numbers remain slightly higher than last year.
Citywide murders decreased by 5% during the month of May compared to the same period in 2025.
Chicago police officers investigated 36 homicides throughout the month, down from 38 deaths recorded during May of last year.
Despite that monthly dip, total homicides for the first five months of 2026 reached 167 cases, marking a 6% increase compared to the 158 homicides tracked by this date in 2025.
Long-term trends show a substantial reduction in violence when compared to earlier years, as May homicides peaked at 70 in 2023 and reached 58 in 2024.
The Bureau of Detectives maintained a 74% clearance rate through the end of the month, successfully solving 124 homicides so far this year.
Shooting incidents across Chicago neighborhoods rose by 1% in May, with 127 separate shootings reported compared to 126 last year.
The number of individual shooting victims also climbed by 4% for the month, rising from 158 victims last year to 165 victims this May.
Year-to-date tracking shows 546 total shooting incidents and 664 total shooting victims across the city since January 1.
Chicago police officers focused heavily on weapons enforcement, pulling 1,195 illegal firearms off local streets during May alone.
That monthly total averages out to more than 38 weapons seized by officers during every 24-hour period.
Since the start of 2026, the police department has recovered a total of 4,291 firearms citywide.
Street-level property crimes and violent robberies showed some of the most significant improvements in the new data packet.
Overall robberies dropped by 26% for the month, contributing to a 25% decline in robberies since the start of the year.
Armed robberies involving a gun fell even faster, dropping 27% compared to last May and 32% for the year-to-date period.
Carjackings dropped by 19% for the month, while residential and commercial burglaries decreased by 13% compared to May 2025.
Public transportation routes saw a dramatic safety improvement according to the uniform crime figures.
Total transit crimes on the CTA fell by 40% compared to May of last year, with a 27% decline over the entire year so far.
Violent crime on the transit system dropped by 33% during May, while property crimes on trains and buses fell by 48%.
Total violent crime across the entire city is down 9% so far this year, with an 8% monthly decline.
The monthly report also highlighted the personal toll on the police department following several recent line-of-duty tragedies.
The department held final services in May for Officer John G. Bartholomew, who was shot and killed during a recent field response.
Superintendent Larry Snelling spoke publicly about the loss, praising Bartholomew for dedicating his life to protecting his fellow citizens.
Snelling also requested continued community prayers for Officer Nelson Crespo, who remains in critical condition as he recovers from wounds suffered in the same shooting.
Chicago police leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., during National Police Week to add Officer Krystal Rivera’s name to the National Law Enforcement Memorial wall.
Locally, officers marched down Michigan Avenue for the 94th annual St. Jude Police Memorial March to honor all 608 Chicago officers who have died in the line of duty.
The city also installed new honorary street signs to create permanent memorials for two fallen officers in their respective neighborhoods.
A sign honoring Officer Enrique Martinez now stands at the corner of 64th Street and Komensky Avenue on the Southwest Side.
Near Cole Park, city officials unveiled an honorary sign for Officer Thomas E. Wortham IV to mark 16 years since he lost his life in the community.
The police department expressed gratitude to local neighborhoods for supporting officers at the 65th Annual Recognition Ceremony held during the month.
Public safety officials continue to urge residents to utilize the city’s anonymous tip lines to report suspicious behavior or illegal weapon stashes in their neighborhoods.
Local block clubs are encouraged to coordinate directly with their district police stations to review specific crime patterns on their streets.
All statistical figures remain subject to change as detectives review open cases and update final incident reports.
