New CPD data shows crime fell overall during past year, but incidents downtown saw a sharp jump
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Despite a slight decline in overall crime in Columbia during the past year, reported crime downtown increased sharply.
ABC 17 News obtained a copy of the “Downtown Columbia Crime Trends and Enforcement Strategies” report, which is set to be presented to the Columbia City Council on Monday during the city’s pre-council meeting.
The report compares crime from Sept. 16, 2025-Sept. 15, 2026, with the same period the previous year. The figures only include data from the Columbia Police Department and do not include crime reported by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Boone County Sheriff’s Office or University of Missouri Police Department.
CPD data shows crime decreased slightly across Columbia over the past year, while reported crime downtown increased by nearly 48%. Citywide, there were 8,629 reported crimes from Sept. 16, 2025, through Sept. 15, 2026, down 1.8% from 8,789 during the same period the previous year.
Downtown, however, reported crime increased from 520 incidents to 769, a 47.8% increase.
Violent crimeViolent crime decreased both citywide and downtown during the year-over-year comparison. CPD defines violent crime as robbery, rape, aggravated assault, murder and non-negligent manslaughter.
Across Columbia, violent crime fell 6.8%, from 276 incidents to 257. Downtown, violent crime decreased from 22 incidents to 21.
The report also shows September 2025 had the highest number of violent crimes in a single month since 2023, with six incidents. The previous monthly high was five incidents, recorded in both August and October 2024.
So far in 2026, April saw the highest total of violent incidents with four.
Calls for service and arrestsThe report also projects an increase in calls for service in 2026.
Columbia recorded 13,128 calls for service in 2025, the highest total of the previous three years.
As of Sept. 15, 2026, CPD had recorded 9,055 calls for service. The department projects that number will reach 13,582 by the end of the year.
September also saw the most arrests of any month during the past three years, with 107. The previous monthly high was 97 arrests in October 2025.
Shots firedThere have been 898 shots-fired or shooting incidents reported across Columbia since 2019, according to the data. Of those, 44 occurred downtown.
Downtown recorded seven shooting incidents in both 2024 and 2025, the highest annual totals during that period. Citywide, 2021 had the largest number of shots-fired or shooting incidents with 154.
That number dropped to 80 in 2025. So far in 2026, there have been 42 incidents.
Downtown shooting incidentsThe report also details seven shots-fired incidents reported downtown in 2024.
Several of the incidents occurred during the late-night or early-morning hours, with multiple shootings occurring along or near East Broadway. Some were preceded by fights or other disturbances, and several resulted in arrests or the recovery of firearms and shell casings.
One of the more-serious incidents occurred in May, when a woman was shot in the leg after a large fight near Ninth Street and Broadway. In November, three people were struck by gunfire near East Broadway, including two uninvolved bystanders. Two suspects were arrested in that case.
The report notes that investigations remained open in two of the seven 2024 incidents.
The same geographic pattern continued into 2025, with several incidents concentrated around Broadway, Walnut Street and Ninth Street. Seven shots-fired incidents were documented downtown that year, including multiple incidents near the intersections of Ninth and Walnut and in the 800 block of East Broadway.
Most of the 2025 incidents also occurred during overnight or early-morning hours. In June, an uninvolved bystander was struck by a stray round near East Walnut Street. Later that month, a downtown robbery escalated into a shooting that left the victim fatally wounded. In September, three people were shot in the 800 block of East Broadway, including one person who later died from her injuries. Officers also reported hearing another gunshot nearby while investigating that shooting.
So far in 2026, the report lists two downtown shots-fired incidents, both near Walnut Street. One occurred in August in the 800 block of East Walnut, where four shots were fired and a suspect was arrested with the gun. Another was reported in September near 705 East Walnut, with the suspect later identified and arrested.
Overall, the report shows repeated shots-fired incidents in the downtown area around Broadway, Walnut Street and Ninth Street, with many occurring during late-night or early-morning hours. However, the report’s incident data does not establish a single cause or explain why those areas have seen repeated shootings.
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