Fact check: How many homicides were there in Washington, DC in January 2025?

1. Summary of the results

The original statement inquires about the number of homicides in Washington, DC in January 2025. Based on the analyses provided, it is not possible to determine the exact number of homicides in January 2025 ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. However, some sources provide information on the total number of homicides in Washington, D.C. as of certain dates in 2025. For example, one source mentions that there were 103 homicides as of August 28, 2025 ^[1], while another source reports a preliminary count of 99 homicides as of a certain date in 2025 ^[4]. Additionally, some sources list specific homicide cases that occurred in January 2025, including the cases of Eugene Jefferson, Landen Mayo, Thomas Drew, Jr., Antoine Pratt, Nico Rector, and Terell Cortez West ^{[5] [6]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key context is missing from the original statement, such as the total number of homicides in previous years for comparison ^[4]. This information is provided by some sources, which report that the number of homicides in Washington, D.C. fell 32% in 2024 and another 12% in 2025 ^[4]. Furthermore, the original statement does not consider the monthly distribution of homicides, which could be relevant in understanding the crime trends in Washington, D.C. ^{[5] [6]}. Alternative viewpoints on the topic, such as the causes of the decline in homicides or the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies, are also not presented in the original statement ^{[2] [4]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading because it implies that there is available data on the number of homicides in January 2025, when in fact, most sources do not provide this specific information ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. Additionally, the statement may lack context, as it does not consider the overall trend of homicides in Washington, D.C. or the potential factors contributing to this trend ^[4]. The sources that provide information on the decline in homicides in 2024 and 2025 may benefit from presenting a positive narrative about the reduction in crime, while sources that highlight the number of homicides may benefit from presenting a narrative of concern about public safety ^{[2] [4]}.