Homicides are on decline in LA but shooting deaths of unhoused people remain disproportionately high

An investigation by LAist and The LA Local found at least 278 unhoused residents in Los Angeles have been shot and killed since 2015, with gunfire becoming the primary method of lethal violence against this population. While overall homicides in LA have declined, fatal shootings of unhoused individuals remained high between 2024 and 2025, even as overall homicides fell by 19% in 2025.