ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Albuquerque Police Department is reporting a 34% decrease in homicides from 2024 to 2025, marking the city’s lowest homicide total since 2018. APD investigated 63 homicide cases last year involving 65 victims, a 46% drop compared to 2022.
Interim Police Chief Cecily Barker said the department’s expanded investigative capacity and emphasis on supporting families played a key role in the decline. APD added detectives, strengthened investigative teams and increased use of technology throughout 2025.
APD solved 55 of last year’s homicide cases, an 89% clearance rate. Detectives also closed 26 older or cold cases, bringing the total number of cases solved in 2025 to 81 — the highest number of prior‑year and cold-case resolutions in at least ten years. The combined clearance rate reached 129%.
Deputy Chief George Vega said increased staffing in the Homicide Unit and a larger Digital Intelligence Team helped investigators make progress on cases dating back more than a decade.
In total, police arrested 123 homicide suspects in 2025. Seventy‑seven arrests were connected to cases from last year, while 46 were tied to investigations from previous years, including cases dating back to 2012.
Commander Jeff Barnard said the results reflect a team‑based approach that includes detectives, civilian investigators, victim advocates and digital analysts.
2025 Homicide Data at a Glance
- 65 homicide victims across 63 cases
- 34% decrease from 2024 (98 to 65)
- 46% decrease since 2022
- 55 of 63 cases solved in 2025
- 26 prior-year and cold cases solved
- 123 total homicide-related arrests
- Lowest homicide count since 2018
