Someone was shot outside my building. It feels like a macabre rite of passage
Sydney Morning Herald
by Michael KoziolFebruary 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A journalist recounting a harrowing experience of witnessing a fatal shooting near their Washington DC apartment highlights the tension between personal trauma and broader crime statistics under President Donald Trump's tenure. Despite feeling like an "emerging situation" in a city plagued by violence, the incident occurred amid a significant drop in violent crime rates. According to data from 35 major U.S. cities, homicides decreased by 21% in 2025 compared to 2024, resulting in 922 fewer deaths. This decline is expected to reach its lowest point since records began in 1900, marking a historic low in the national murder rate.
The journalist's experience underscores the paradox of living in a city where crime rates are falling but violent incidents still occur. Washington DC alone saw a 68% reduction in homicides this year compared to last year, yet fatal shootings continue to shock residents. The author reflects on their proximity to past shootings, including one at a nearby McDonald’s and another involving a 15-year-old boy, which occurred during a post-COVID crime surge. Despite these incidents, Trump has repeatedly emphasized the city's safety, claiming it now experiences "zero" crime and is among the safest in the world.
The broader context of Trump's "tough-on-crime" policies, including the deployment of the National Guard to Washington DC, is framed as a success by his administration. The White House contrasts this with former President Joe Biden's approach, which they describe as a "defund the police era." However, the reality is that violent crime has declined across the board, not just in cities where Trump took visible action. For example, homicides fell by 40% in Washington DC and similarly significant drops were recorded in Denver, Omaha, and Atlanta.
This shift in crime trends matters globally as it raises questions about the effectiveness of policy changes in reducing violence. The decline
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 2/21/2026