Has any US city with over 1 million residents ever recorded a year with zero murders?
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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].