A new report by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner says homicides fell by roughly 22% last year from 2023. And the rate of murders committed with guns dropped even more.
Private health care providers certify most deaths. State law says a medical examiner investigates certain cases, such as when people die from violence or an accident.
The report says a 27% decrease in gun-related homicides in Maricopa County entirely drove an overall drop in murders.
The drug-related death rate also fell, including cases with fentanyl, which gave way to methamphetamine as the most commonly detected drug.
Most accidental deaths overall were drug-related. For small children, the most common accidental death ruling was drowning.
Read the report