Homicide rate in Columbus starts 2026 at a level not seen in over 10 years
January 2026 is the first January in over 10 years in which Columbus did not have a homicide, Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis told the city council during Tuesday’s meeting.
Mathis acknowledged the homicide that occurred Feb. 3 in the 3600 block of Grier Avenue. The domestic-related incident ended in the death of two people, one by suicide and one by homicide, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.
Bryan identified the homicide victim as 52-year-old Rachel Savage.
The suicide victim is Rachel Savage’s son, 29-year-old Adam Savage, according to Bryan.
Bryan said another family member was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.
“One’s too many,” Mathis said, “But if we can keep it down to single digits this year, it’d be a great feat.”
The Ledger-Enquirer reported in December CPD statistics showing a significant overall reduction in the most serious crimes. Comparing the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 2 in 2024 to the same period in 2025, the number of Part 1 crimes in Columbus decreased by 14.5%, from 7,046 to 6,024, according to CPD data.
Part 1 crimes listed by CPD are murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and theft by taking a motor vehicle. The number of Part 1 crimes in Columbus decreased in six of the seven categories. The steepest decline was in aggravated assault. Rape was the only category with an increase in Columbus.
Here are the category statistics:
- Murder decreased by 15.6%, from 32 to 27.
- Rape increased by 15.2%, from 33 to 38.
- Aggravated assault decreased by 45.9%, from 727 to 393.
- Burglary decreased by 34.1%, from 659 to 434.
- Larceny decreased by 6.6%, from 4,831 to 4,514.
- Theft by taking a motor vehicle decreased by 16.9%, from 591 to 491.
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 3:11 PM.