FBI UCR Homicide Data — 153 recorded incidents
Columbus has experienced a sharp rise in homicides over the past decade, with the city recording over 100 killings per year — a dramatic increase from the roughly 70 annual homicides in the early 2010s. The violence is concentrated on the city's South Side and the Linden neighborhood, where poverty, lead exposure, and limited educational opportunities create conditions for persistent violent crime. Columbus made national news with the 2022 murder of 22-year-old Casey Zinn, a nursing student killed in a case that remains under investigation. Ohio's permitless carry law has been a factor cited by prosecutors in several Columbus homicide cases. FBI UCR data powers The Murder Channel's Columbus homicide tracker.
Columbus, Ohio has recorded 153 homicides over the tracked period, with 189 victims identified. Tracking continues through 2026. The city ranks #13 among 339 U.S. cities tracked by the FBI, with a clearance rate of 18% — meaning an arrest or suspect identification was made in 27 of those incidents.
The weapon mix skews toward firearm - handguns (roughly 41% of cases with weapon data), with firearm - type unknown, knife/cutting instrument as the next-most-frequent categories. The single deadliest month on record was April 2022, with 17 homicides logged.
Columbus's homicide rate is 65% above the average for tracked U.S. cities, based on FBI UCR data. 74 cases remain under investigation. Reporting is dominated by Bexley Police Department, which filed 132 incident reports. For broader statewide context, see our Ohio state homicide data page. The Columbus metropolitan area continues to be monitored as part of the national homicide tracking effort.