SF's Homicide Surge Stands Out Amid National Decline
San Francisco has seen a 55% rise in homicides in the first six months of 2026, reaching 16 killings compared with 12 in the same period last year, even as the national murder rate falls to its lowest level since 1900. The increase contrasts with declines in many other major cities; police say most killings are firearms-related and concentrated in the Southern District, while other crime categories have dropped.