New Orleans, one of the most popular US cities for tourism, has achieved an unwanted title: America’s murder capital. Surging crime and breakdowns in law enforcement have given the ‘Big Easy’ the highest US homicide rate, far exceeding those in such violence-plagued cities as St. Louis, Chicago or New York.
There have been 205 homicides so far in 2022, up 141% from pre-pandemic levels and 46% higher than this time last year, according to data from the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission. The city’s homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 residents as of last week surpassed the previous US murder leader, St. Louis, where the rate is at less than 45 per 100,000 so far this year.
The New Orleans homicide rate is nearly triple this year’s level in Chicago, one of the most notorious US cities for gun violence. By comparison, New York City has a rate of just 3.5 homicides per 100,000 residents. Murders in New Orleans are running at nearly 15 times that pace.