January 1, DC Crime Drops Yet Still Ranks Among Worst

Wyatt’s Take

• DC’s officials boast about crime going down, but the murder rate still puts them near the top in America.
• The federal takeover of the city’s police shows how serious things have gotten, even if local politicians deny a crisis.
• Carjackings and brutal murders aren’t going away—and working folks pay the price.

Washington, D.C. officials are highlighting a drop in violent crime since the pandemic, claiming numbers have improved. Yet, DC remains one of the most dangerous cities in the country, not far behind troubled places like Detroit or New Orleans.

The president has taken direct control of the Metropolitan Police Department, using a rarely touched law to push back on the city’s stubborn crime problems. According to the Center for Public Safety Initiatives, murders in DC dropped about 30% in 2024, but it’s still not enough for families worried about safety.

“I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor, and worse. This is Liberation Day in D.C. and we’re going to take our capital back,”

President Trump said during his announcement at the White House.

He said, “Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”

Even with a better year reported by the mayor and attorney general, DC still shows a murder rate higher than practically everywhere except St. Louis, New Orleans, and Detroit. The latest research finds homicide rates holding at levels close to before COVID-19, with DC reaching 40.9 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2023—a figure that dwarfs most world capitals.

The streets aren’t safe. A congressional intern was recently killed in a drive-by shooting, drawing more attention to just how dangerous the city has become. The victim, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, simply walked home from work when his life was cut short.

Carjackings peaked in 2023 at numbers not seen for years, and even now, those crimes are still well above normal. People live in fear of being attacked just driving or walking outside, and attackers act with little worry about getting caught.

One man earned praise for standing up to a violent group trying to carjack a woman, ending up beaten and bloodied for stepping up. It shows the risks regular folks face and how much work still needs doing to reclaim the streets.

Source

Wyatt Matters

Every American deserves to feel safe, whether they’re working a shift or heading home at night. When crime stays high and leaders make excuses, real families suffer. It’s time for honest solutions that put regular citizens first.