Phoenix Arizona

Phoenix has emerged as one of America's most dangerous large cities, with a homicide rate that has climbed sharply over the past decade. Arizona's permissive gun laws — including a lack of permit requirements for concealed carry — and the state's role as a transit corridor for both human trafficking and narcotics have contributed to a violent crime problem that is disproportionate to its reputation as a sunny retirement destination. Phoenix's neighborhoods on the west and south sides have recorded the highest concentrations of homicide, driven by poverty and limited social services. The city gained national notoriety with the 2016 murder of 9-year-old Maya Choe, whose body was found in a desert area outside the city, and the 2022 killing of 25-year-old Shanquella Morris by a group of people she traveled with from Charlotte. The Murder Channel tracks Phoenix homicides through FBI UCR data.

Phoenix, Arizona has recorded 30 homicides over the tracked period, with 34 victims identified. Tracking continues through 2026. The city ranks #131 among 339 U.S. cities tracked by the FBI, with a clearance rate of 23% — meaning an arrest or suspect identification was made in 7 of those incidents.

Detailed weapon and circumstance data continues to be analyzed by local law enforcement agencies.

Phoenix's homicide rate is 68% below the average for tracked U.S. cities, based on FBI UCR data. 16 cases remain under investigation. For broader statewide context, see our Arizona state homicide data page. The Phoenix metropolitan area continues to be monitored as part of the national homicide tracking effort.