This week, in 3 cities
Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty in April 2026 to eight counts of first-degree murder in the Gilgo Beach serial-killings case — a long-running investigation that spanned more than a decade. On June 17, 2026, he was sentenced to eight consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case was covered in detail in our recent explainer on the Gilgo Beach killings and in our sentencing-day preview.
Chicago: still #1
Chicago continues to lead all U.S. cities in homicides year-to-date, with 297 recorded killings through mid-June 2026. The pace has roughly tracked the prior two-year average, holding its position atop the national count despite a slight year-over-year decline.
Pattern you might miss
Philadelphia and Baltimore are averaging more than one homicide per day in 2026 — a pace that puts both cities on track for another record-setting year, even as the national homicide rate continues to tick downward.
Top 5 cities — homicides YTD
- Chicago — 297
- Philadelphia — 217
- Baltimore — 153
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