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The Nexus
Data through Jul 4, 2026
Reported vs. measured

Richmond, VA

Richmond crime coverage and measured incidents diverge sharply by category, both nationally and locally

Over the 90 days through July 4, 2026, Richmond recorded 2,977 measured incidents across all categories, with homicide accounting for just 5 cases (0% of measured volume). Yet homicide drew 13 of 22 local stories (59% of local coverage) and 3 of 8 national stories (38% of national coverage), including headlines like WRIC ABC8's 'Person dead, suspect on the run after shooting near VCU campus in Richmond' (June 30, 2026). Meanwhile, the single largest measured category, 'other' offenses (1,353 incidents, 45% of measured volume), produced zero local stories and only 1 national story (12% of national share). Property crimes such as motor vehicle theft (291 incidents, 10% share) and burglary (163 incidents, 5% share) received no coverage in either national or local sample sets.

Recorded incidents · last 18 months
2025-012026-07
Incidents vs. national vs. local coverage

Each category’s share of measured incidents, national/cable coverage, and local coverage over the same ~90-day window.

8 national stories · 22 local stories in window

Other
Measured
1,353 · 45%

1,353 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: -8% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
1 story · 12%
Local
none
Theft
Measured
337 · 11%

337 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: -7% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
1 story · 12%
Local
none
Motor vehicle theft
Measured
291 · 10%

291 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: -5% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
none
Vandalism
Measured
239 · 8%

239 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: +5% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
none
Assault
Measured
185 · 6%

185 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: -8% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
1 story · 12%
Local
6 stories · 27%
Burglary
Measured
163 · 5%

163 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: +5% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
none
Weapons
Measured
134 · 5%

134 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: +15% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
1 story · 5%
Sex offenses
Measured
59 · 2%

59 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: +27% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
none
Fraud
Measured
55 · 2%

55 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: 0% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
none
Drugs
Measured
54 · 2%

54 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: -43% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
1 story · 12%
Local
none
Robbery
Measured
47 · 2%

47 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: +6% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
1 story · 12%
Local
2 stories · 9%
Disorder
Measured
41 · 1%

41 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: +42% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
none
Arson
Measured
14 · 0%

14 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: -40% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
0 stories · 0%
Local
none
Homicide
Measured
5 · 0%

5 incidents recorded over the ~90-day window, through Jul 4, 2026.

30-day trend: +100% vs. the prior 30 days.

Source: Richmond VA PD Crime Incidents

National
3 stories · 38%
Local
13 stories · 59%
What the coverage looked like
How to read this
  • Data reflects the 90-day window through July 4, 2026; category counts and coverage totals may shift as more recent incidents are finalized.
  • Local coverage (22 stories) is not sparse by volume, but it is heavily concentrated in homicide and assault; routine categories like theft, burglary, vandalism, and 'other' offenses had zero local stories in this sample.
  • National sample size (8 stories) is small; single-story swings materially affect percentage shares in categories like drugs, robbery, and theft.
  • 30-day percent changes (e.g., homicide +100%, disorder +42%, sex_offense +27%) reflect short-term shifts and are not directly comparable to the 90-day totals or coverage shares.
  • This reconciliation does not assert whether crime is rising or falling; it compares measured incident shares against reported coverage shares only.