A troubling trend appears all but certain to end as Atlanta's homicide rate remains far behind 2016.

Through October 21, the city has recorded 66 homicides -- 22 fewer murders than at this same point a year ago. 

Atlanta had seen an increase in murders for three consecutive years coming into 2017. The city recorded 111 murders in 2016— the first time since 2008 the city’s homicide rate topped the century mark.

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Mathew Palmer, a former Delta Air Lines employee, at his home in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.  Palmer was fired less than two weeks after writing a post on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Natrice Miller/AJC)