NORFOLK, Va. — The first half of 2024 brought a noticeable drop in homicides in Hampton Roads, according to records kept by 13News Now.
Across the seven cities, there were 80 homicides from January to June 2024, compared with 110 during the same time last year.
That marks a 27% drop in homicides in Hampton Roads.
Nationwide, there was a rise in violence around the same time as the COVID-19 lockdowns, and Hampton Roads was no different.
Homicides in our area peaked in 2022.
And if this year's trend continues, 2024 is likely to finish closer to 2020's level of 167 homicides, which is a drop from recent highs, but still above average historically speaking.
From 2000 to 2023, FBI statistics show Hampton Roads averaged 132 homicides a year.
Chesapeake is the only local city with an increase so far this year.
Portsmouth and Norfolk are flat, while Virginia Beach, Newport News and Suffolk are all down.
Hampton has seen the biggest drop, going from 22 homicides to six, which amounts to a 73% drop.
This year's average age of victims is 31, while the average suspect age is 29.
Teens, either suspect or victim, account for half of the homicides in Chesapeake and the majority in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate acknowledged his city's success in a post on X over the weekend, where he also noted that shootings are down 46%.
Newport News Police tell 13News Now that non-fatal shootings are down 23%.