Fact check: Dates of homicides in Washington DC in 2025?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal that specific dates of individual homicides in Washington DC for 2025 are not publicly available through the sources examined. However, the data shows that as of August 21, 2025, there were 101 homicides in Washington DC, representing a 12% decrease from 2024 ^[1]. This continues a downward trend, as homicides decreased by 32% from 2023 to 2024 ^[2].

The Metropolitan Police Department released these crime statistics on August 11, 2025, confirming the declining homicide numbers for both 2024 and 2025 ^[2]. While one source mentions there have been "nearly 100 homicides so far in 2025, including the fatal shootings of innocent civilians" ^[3], the official count stands at 101 as of late August.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question seeks specific dates but omits the broader context of Washington DC's crime trends. The analyses reveal important missing information:

• Long-term trend perspective: While 2025 shows improvement, the city's homicide rate in 2024 was roughly 25 per 100,000 residents and had been steadily climbing since 2012 ^[4]. In fact, the 2024 homicide rate was nearly double what it was in 2012 ^[2].
• Comparative crime context: Despite the focus on homicides, violent crime overall is at a 30-year low in Washington DC ^[2], providing a different perspective on public safety.
• Data accessibility: The question assumes individual homicide dates are readily available, but crime data is typically reported in aggregate form rather than as detailed incident logs with specific dates.

Political stakeholders who benefit from emphasizing either rising or falling crime statistics include local politicians, law enforcement officials, and federal representatives who use DC crime data to support various policy positions.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is not misinformative but may reflect unrealistic expectations about data availability. The request for specific dates of homicides suggests an assumption that such detailed information is publicly accessible, when in reality, law enforcement agencies typically release aggregate statistics rather than incident-by-incident breakdowns with specific dates.

However, the framing could potentially be used to cherry-pick specific incidents rather than examining overall trends. The analyses show that while individual dates aren't available, the overall trend in 2025 is positive with a 12% decrease in homicides ^[1], which provides more meaningful context than isolated incident dates would offer.

The question's focus on dates rather than trends could inadvertently obscure the broader public safety picture, where homicides are declining even as they remain elevated compared to historical lows from over a decade ago.