Alarm as US domestic violence killings remain high despite drop in homicides
Non-profits say requests for legal help and housing on rise amid Trump funding cuts for prevention and response As cities and states across the US report historic drops in homicides, domestic violence killings remain alarmingly high. In Chicago, where homicides fell from 805 in 2021 to 425 in 2025, killings tied to domestic violence increased by 15% between 2024 and 2025. In Kansas City,…
The Guardian US reports that despite a general decline in homicides across the United States, domestic violence killings have remained alarmingly high. In cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, Missouri, and Ohio, while homicides have decreased in general, the number of domestic violence-related killings has either remained stable or increased.
Chicago experienced a 15% rise in domestic violence-related homicides from 2024 to 2025, while Kansas City saw 2025 as the second deadliest year for such killings. Ohio also recorded its deadliest year for domestic violence killings in 2025, despite a general drop in homicides. The FBI's 2026 report indicates that domestic violence now accounts for 27.5% of violent crimes, up from 25% in 2020.
Non-profits attribute this alarming trend to the impact of recent funding cuts for prevention and response efforts.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
