Fact check: Has any US city with over 1 million residents ever recorded a year with zero murders?

1. Summary of the results

After reviewing the analyses from various sources, it is clear that none of the sources provide information about any US city with over 1 million residents recording a year with zero murders ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}. The analyses primarily discuss crime trends in US cities, including decreases in homicide rates, but do not address the specific question of whether any city with over 1 million residents has achieved a year with zero murders. Some sources mention declines in homicide rates, such as a 17% decrease in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 ^[1], but these findings do not provide insight into the question at hand. One notable exception is a 13-day period in Washington, D.C. where there were no recorded homicides ^[5], but this is not a city with over 1 million residents achieving a year with zero murders.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is long-term crime data for US cities with over 1 million residents, which could provide insight into whether any of these cities have achieved a year with zero murders ^{[1] [4]}. Alternative viewpoints, such as comparisons to international cities or smaller US cities, could also be useful in understanding the likelihood of a city with over 1 million residents achieving a year with zero murders ^{[3] [6]}. Additionally, analysis of specific crime prevention strategies could provide context on how cities might achieve low or zero murder rates ^[5]. Some sources mention the benefits of certain crime prevention strategies, such as President Trump's DC crime crackdown, which reportedly led to a 13-day period with no homicides in Washington, D.C. ^[5], but these findings are not directly relevant to the question at hand.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading or overly broad, as it implies that there may be a US city with over 1 million residents that has achieved a year with zero murders, when in fact none of the sources provide evidence to support this claim ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}. This could be due to a lack of research or data on the topic, or bias in the presentation of the question, which may be intended to elicit a specific response or perpetuate a particular narrative ^[5]. Certain groups, such as law enforcement agencies or politicians, may benefit from the perception that it is possible for a city with over 1 million residents to achieve a year with zero murders, as this could be used to justify certain crime prevention strategies or policies ^[5].