FBI UCR Homicide Data — 271 recorded incidents
Memphis has been called one of America's most dangerous cities for good reason — the combination of concentrated poverty, historic racial segregation, and an understaffed police department has produced a homicide rate that consistently ranks among the top 10 nationally. The city's 901 area code has also been the scene of some of Tennessee's most notorious cases, including the 2023 fatal shooting of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop by Memphis police officers — an incident that sparked national protests and resulted in first-degree murder charges. Beyond police violence, Memphis neighborhoods like Orange Mound and Whitehaven have recorded homicide rates that far exceed national averages. The city also produced "TheMurderChannel" namesake content through high-profile cases like the 2021 murder of Eliza Fletcher, a Memphis native and real estate investor, by Cleotha Abston, who confessed to a separate murder in the same year. FBI UCR data powers The Murder Channel's Memphis homicide tracking.
Memphis, Tennessee has recorded 271 homicides over the tracked period, with 316 victims identified.. The city ranks #8 among 339 U.S. cities tracked by the FBI, with a clearance rate of 16% — meaning an arrest or suspect identification was made in 44 of those incidents.
Firearms — predominantly firearm - handguns — account for 37% of homicides with weapon data, followed by firearm - type unknown, knife/cutting instrument. The highest single month on record was May 2022, with 25 homicides.
Memphis's homicide rate is 253% above the average for tracked U.S. cities, based on FBI UCR data. 134 cases remain under investigation. The primary reporting agency was Collierville Police Department, which filed 235 incident reports. See also our Tennessee state homicide data page for broader context. The Memphis metropolitan area continues to be monitored as part of the national homicide tracking effort.