Understanding Homicides in Atlanta This Year: What Residents Should Know

If you live in Atlanta, are thinking about moving here, or are visiting for an extended stay, it’s natural to wonder: “How many murders are happening in Atlanta this year?” Just looking for a single number, though, can be misleading without context.

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused guide to how homicides are tracked, what’s publicly available, how crime trends have been shifting, and what practical steps you can take to stay informed and safe.

Why There’s No Single, Fixed Number for “This Year”

When people ask, “How many murders in Atlanta this year?” they usually want a sense of safety and risk.

A few things make that hard to answer with a precise, up‑to‑the‑day figure:

• Homicide totals change daily as new cases are reported.
• Different agencies report slightly differently (city vs. metro vs. county vs. federal data).
• Data is often published with a delay, especially official, verified annual totals.

Because of this, what you’ll usually find are:

• Year-to-date homicide counts (updated periodically by local law enforcement).
• Final annual totals from past years (more stable and reliable).
• General trends (for example, whether homicides are rising, falling, or leveling off).

For current, exact numbers in Atlanta, it’s better to know where to look and how to interpret what you see than to rely on a single number that changes frequently.

How Homicides Are Counted in Atlanta

What “Homicide” Typically Means

In most Atlanta crime reports:

• “Homicide” or “murder” refers to the intentional killing of one person by another, usually focusing on criminal acts.
• Law enforcement may separate:
  • Criminal homicide (murder and non-negligent manslaughter)
  • Other death categories (like justifiable homicides, negligent manslaughter, or deaths ruled accidental).

When reading Atlanta crime statistics, look for wording like:

• “Homicide (Murder/Non‑Negligent Manslaughter)” – common in official crime dashboards.
• “Part I crimes” – a category that usually includes homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, etc.

This helps you compare apples to apples when looking at data from different years or sources.

Where to Find the Most Current Homicide Numbers in Atlanta

If you want the most up‑to‑date picture of how many murders have occurred in Atlanta this year, these local sources are your best starting points.

1. Atlanta Police Department (APD) Crime Data

The Atlanta Police Department (APD) provides crime information for the City of Atlanta, including homicides.

You can typically find:

• Year‑to‑date homicide counts
• Crime maps by neighborhood or police zone
• Comparisons to previous years

Key APD contacts for crime information:

• Atlanta Police Department Headquarters
  226 Peachtree Street SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main phone: (404) 546‑5895 (general information)

• Zone precincts (Zone 1–6) also sometimes share local crime summaries at community meetings and via neighborhood associations.

If you prefer in-person or phone guidance, you can contact APD’s Public Affairs Unit through the main line and ask where to find current homicide or violent crime statistics.

2. City and County Public Safety Dashboards

Atlanta is part of Fulton County and also extends into DeKalb County. You may see crime data from:

• City of Atlanta online crime dashboards or open data portals
  These typically show:

  • Reported crimes
  • Map-based views
  • Filters by date range, crime type, and neighborhood

• Fulton County and DeKalb County public safety pages
  These are more county‑wide and may be broader than just the city limits.

When viewing these tools, be sure to:

• Filter for “City of Atlanta” or Atlanta Police Department jurisdiction if possible.
• Filter crime type to homicide or murder to avoid mixing it with aggravated assaults or other violent crimes.

3. Federal and State Crime Summaries

For past years, Atlanta homicide totals are often included in:

• Statewide Georgia crime summaries
• National summaries where large U.S. cities are listed separately

These are less current (usually lagging by many months) but more stable once published.

What Recent Trends Mean for Someone in Atlanta

While exact year-to-date numbers change, there are some general patterns Atlanta residents usually pay attention to:

• Year-to-year changes: People often compare the current year with the previous one to see if homicides are trending up, down, or leveling off.
• Neighborhood differences: Some parts of Atlanta experience higher rates of violent crime, including homicides, while others stay relatively low.
• Time of day and type of incident: Homicides may cluster around particular times (late night, weekends) or specific types of disputes (personal conflicts, crime-related disputes).

For someone relocating or choosing where to live, it’s helpful to:

• Look at multi‑year trends, not just one year.
• Focus on specific neighborhoods or police zones, not the entire metro at once.
• Compare homicides with other violent crime categories to get a fuller picture.

Understanding City vs. Metro Atlanta Homicide Numbers

One major source of confusion is the difference between:

• City of Atlanta (what APD covers), and
• Metro Atlanta (the larger region including many cities and counties such as Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and others).

When you see homicide numbers, verify:

• Is this just the City of Atlanta?
• Or is it metro‑wide, covering many jurisdictions?

Metro Atlanta numbers will always be higher, simply because they cover a much bigger population and area. For personal decision-making (like where to live), focus on city-level and even neighborhood-level information.

How to Check Crime and Homicide Risk by Neighborhood

If you’re choosing a place to live in Atlanta, you may want to understand local safety patterns, not just overall city totals.

Practical steps:

1. Use crime maps that show incidents by location
   Filter by:

   • Homicide or murder
   • Robbery
   • Aggravated assault
     Over several months or years, this can show patterns.

2. Attend or watch neighborhood public safety meetings
   Many Atlanta neighborhoods have:

   • Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs)
   • Neighborhood associations
   • Community meetings with APD zone officers
     These often include crime overviews and Q&A.

3. Talk with local residents and property managers
   They can often share:

   • What types of incidents are common
   • Whether violent crime feels frequent or rare
   • How the area has changed over time

4. Check APD zone crime snapshots
   Atlanta is divided into police Zones 1–6. Each has its own patterns. You can ask APD which zone covers your address and what the recent violent crime trends have been.

Staying Safe in Atlanta: Practical Tips

No city can offer a risk‑free environment, but many Atlanta residents use common-sense habits that reduce personal risk, especially around violent crime.

Everyday personal safety habits

• Stay aware of surroundings, especially at night and in unfamiliar areas.
• Avoid displaying valuables (phones, laptops, jewelry) in situations that feel uncertain.
• Use well‑lit, busier routes when walking or using MARTA late at night.
• Travel in groups when possible in nightlife districts or around large events.
• Plan transportation in advance, especially late at night (rideshare, trusted taxi, or known routes on MARTA).

At home or in an apartment

• Check locks and lighting: Doors, windows, garage, and exterior lighting.
• Ask about building security: Controlled access, cameras, and on‑site staff.
• Get to know immediate neighbors: Communities with more interaction often notice problems earlier and share information.

Where to Go in Atlanta if You Need Help or Want to Report Crime

If you’re concerned about crime or need to report something in Atlanta, here are key contacts.

For emergencies

• Dial 911
  For immediate threats to life or safety, suspicious activity that appears dangerous, or serious ongoing incidents.

For non-emergency police matters

• Atlanta Police Non-Emergency Line
  Phone: (404) 658‑6666
  Use this for:
  • Non-urgent reports
  • Follow-up questions about previously reported incidents
  • General concerns that aren’t active emergencies

For anonymous crime tips

• Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta
  Tip line: (404) 577‑TIPS (8477)
  Many Atlanta residents use this to share information about crimes (including homicides) anonymously.

For victim support and resources

If you or someone you know has been affected by violent crime, including homicide loss:

• Fulton County District Attorney’s Office – Victim‑Witness Assistance Program
  Lewis R. Slaton Courthouse
  136 Pryor Street SW, 3rd Floor
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main phone: (404) 612‑4981

• DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office – Victim‑Witness Assistance
  556 N. McDonough Street
  Decatur, GA 30030
  Main phone: (404) 371‑2561

These offices can provide information about case status, court processes, and available support services.

Quick Reference: How to Get Reliable Info on Atlanta Homicides

Below is a simple summary of where to look and what each source is best for.

How to Use This Information When Deciding to Live in Atlanta

When you’re making decisions about living, working, or spending extended time in Atlanta, consider:

• Look beyond a single homicide count. One number for “this year” doesn’t tell you:

  • Where incidents happen
  • Who is involved
  • How risk varies by area or time

• Compare over several years. You’ll get a better sense of whether the city is:

  • Improving in terms of violent crime,
  • Experiencing temporary spikes,
  • Or dealing with longer-term challenges.

• Focus on the neighborhoods where you’ll spend most of your time.
  Commuting patterns, nightlife areas, and your home neighborhood all matter more than the overall citywide total.

• Balance crime data with quality-of-life factors. Many Atlanta residents choose neighborhoods based on:

  • Walkability and transit access
  • Schools or proximity to universities
  • Parks, restaurants, and cultural life
    They use crime information as one of several tools, not the only deciding factor.

If you want to know exactly how many murders have occurred in Atlanta so far this year, your best step is to check the most recent crime data published by the Atlanta Police Department and, if needed, follow up via their non-emergency line for guidance on interpreting the numbers.