Public Safety

Gainesville homicide count surpasses all of last year with five deaths so far in 2026

Mayor Harvey Ward spoke out about violent crime in Gainesville following two homicides last weekend — a teenage shooting victim on Northwest 6th Street and a stabbing victim on Northwest Third Street. The deaths push the city’s homicide total to at least five for the year, already exceeding the full-year count for 2025. Ward acknowledged the ongoing concern while noting that gun violence has been trending downward, with recent incidents spanning multiple types of violent crime.

Sources: WCJB TV20