8 Cities in the U.S. With the Most Gun Violence in 2026
Gun violence remains one of America’s most closely watched public safety issues, but the numbers tell a more complicated story than headlines alone.
While many major cities have reported declines in shootings and homicides, a group of communities continues to experience disproportionately high levels of firearm-related violence.
Researchers tracking gun violence trends caution that rankings can change depending on the measurement used. Some lists focus on total shootings, while others examine gun deaths per capita, homicide rates, or gun-related injuries.
The cities below stand out because of persistent firearm violence measured through available crime data, including trends collected from the Gun Violence Archive and other crime databases.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis continues to face one of the highest gun homicide rates among major American cities, with violence concentrated in specific neighborhoods.
For years, St. Louis has ranked among the cities with the highest firearm-related death rates in the country. Although the city has made progress in reducing violent crime, shootings remain a major challenge.
Crime analysts have pointed to factors including neighborhood poverty, illegal firearm markets, and disputes that escalate into shootings. St. Louis often records fewer total shootings than larger cities like Chicago or New York, but its smaller population means its violence rate remains extremely high.
Recent crime rankings have placed St. Louis among the nation’s leaders in murder rates, with firearm incidents making up a significant portion of those deaths.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis remains one of the U.S. cities where residents experience some of the highest levels of violent crime, including firearm assaults.
With a population of more than 600,000 people, Memphis has struggled with persistent gun violence linked to robberies, gang conflicts, and personal disputes.
Crime data shows Memphis consistently appearing near the top of national violent crime rankings. Analysts note that while citywide numbers can be alarming, gun violence is often concentrated in smaller areas rather than spread evenly across the entire city.
In recent years, Memphis has invested in additional policing strategies, community programs, and violence prevention efforts as officials attempt to address the problem.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit has made major improvements from its most violent years, but firearm crime remains a serious concern in 2026.
The city has seen long-term declines in homicide compared with previous decades. However, Detroit still experiences a high number of shootings because of its population size and ongoing challenges involving illegal guns and violent disputes.
Data tracking firearm incidents continues to place Detroit among cities with some of the highest numbers of gun-related cases. Researchers studying urban gun violence often include Detroit when examining long-term trends because of its history of concentrated firearm crime.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago remains one of the most recognized names in America’s gun violence debate because of the sheer number of shootings recorded each year.
Unlike smaller cities with higher rates per resident, Chicago’s large population means it frequently records a high number of total shooting victims.
The city has experienced periods of improvement, with homicide numbers declining from recent peaks. Still, firearm violence continues to affect certain neighborhoods at much higher rates than others.
Gun violence researchers emphasize that Chicago’s situation cannot be understood through citywide averages alone because shootings are heavily concentrated in specific communities.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore has spent years battling firearm violence, but recent declines show that progress is possible even in cities with deep challenges.
Baltimore has historically reported one of the highest homicide rates among large U.S. cities. However, recent years have brought some of the largest improvements in decades.
Officials have credited a combination of focused law enforcement, community violence intervention programs, and prevention strategies for helping reduce shootings.
Even with improvements, Baltimore remains on national watch lists because its firearm homicide rate remains elevated compared with many American cities.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia continues to deal with thousands of firearm-related incidents each year, although recent data shows a downward trend.
The city’s size makes it one of the largest centers of gun violence in the Northeast. Neighborhood-level differences are significant, with some communities experiencing far higher shooting rates than others.
Philadelphia has recently reported reductions in shootings and homicides, following a broader national decline in violent crime. However, officials continue to focus on illegal guns, repeat offenders, and youth violence prevention.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans remains one of America’s cities most affected by gun violence when measured by homicide rates per resident.
The city’s relatively small population compared with places like Chicago means every shooting has a larger statistical impact.
New Orleans has historically struggled with firearm-related killings connected to disputes, criminal networks, and economic challenges. Like several cities on this list, officials have emphasized that violence is often concentrated in specific neighborhoods rather than representing the entire city.
Crime experts say smaller cities can experience some of the highest violence rates because a limited number of shootings can dramatically affect overall statistics.
Oakland, California
Oakland has faced years of firearm violence challenges, although recent trends show signs of improvement.
The city has historically reported elevated homicide rates compared with many other California cities. Officials have worked on strategies involving community programs, policing changes, and efforts targeting illegal firearms.
Recent national analyses show that many cities, including Oakland, have experienced declines in gun violence compared with previous years. Still, the city remains part of the broader national conversation about reducing firearm crime.
Why gun violence rankings can change quickly
The cities with the highest gun violence numbers are not frozen in place. Crime patterns can shift dramatically from one year to the next.
Researchers tracking more than 150 U.S. cities have found that gun violence has declined in many communities after reaching historic highs during the early 2020s. However, some cities continue to experience stubbornly high levels of shootings because of concentrated violence, economic challenges, and illegal firearm access.
The biggest lesson from the data is that gun violence is often a neighborhood-level issue. A city can see major improvements overall while some communities continue to experience repeated shootings.
