Toronto is on track to end 2025 with one of its lowest annual homicide counts in nearly four decades, a stark contrast to the previous year's alarming total. According to an exclusive interview with the Toronto Sun, the head of the Toronto Police Service's homicide unit attributes the significant decline to a multi-faceted strategy that makes escaping justice for murder increasingly challenging.
A Remarkable Decline in Fatal Violence
As the final days of 2025 approach, Toronto has recorded just 42 homicides. This figure is remarkably close to the city's modern low of 39 murders set back in 1986—a year when Star Trek IV topped the box office and the Maple Leafs languished near the bottom of the NHL standings. The current count stands in sharp relief to 2024, which saw a shocking 85 homicides.
Ted Lioumanis, Commander of the TPS Homicide Unit, called the trend "really pretty remarkable." He emphasized the difficulty for perpetrators, stating, "The truth is that getting away with murder now is very, very difficult."
The Tools and Tenacity Behind High Clearance Rates
Lioumanis, a 28-year veteran with 12 years in homicide, pointed to a combination of technological advances and relentless investigative work. While tools like widespread CCTV, cell phone tracing, and DNA analysis provide critical leads, he stressed that old-fashioned police work remains indispensable.
He cited the tragic August 2025 killing of eight-year-old JahVai Roy, who was struck by a stray bullet in his North York bedroom. "The team put in hundreds of hours going through hours and hours of video tracking these people down," Lioumanis said. This dogged effort led to charges against two individuals.
This meticulous approach has historically given Toronto one of the highest homicide clearance rates in North America, consistently around 80%. For context, this vastly outperforms other major cities like Chicago, where the solve rate sits at a dismal 25%. So far in 2025, the clearance rate stands at an impressive 85.7%.
A Collaborative, Multi-Layered Strategy for Prevention
Beyond solving crimes, Lioumanis believes a shift toward prevention is key. He advocates for a "multi-layered approach" that integrates police work with community resources like social workers and mental health professionals. The goal is to intervene before conflicts escalate into violence.
"We need to prevent a verbal argument from becoming an assault, then a shooting, then a homicide," he explained. This philosophy mirrors strategies used successfully elsewhere, such as the NYPD's use of data-driven policing (like Comstat) to dramatically reduce murders in New York City.
Of the 42 homicides in Toronto this year, 20 were shootings, 11 were stabbings, and 10 were classified as "other," including beatings. While police effectiveness in apprehending suspects has improved, Lioumanis noted ongoing challenges with the justice system, particularly regarding bail for violent repeat offenders. He expressed hope that recent federal and provincial moves to tighten bail rules will yield positive changes.
Sustainability and a Stark Warning
While celebrating the current downturn, Commander Lioumanis remains cautiously optimistic about its sustainability. "I'd love for this to continue to the new year. Is it sustainable? Maybe," he stated.
He concluded with a firm message for anyone contemplating violence: "The homicide unit will find you, and you will be held accountable." He expressed unwavering confidence in his team, which includes the cold case and missing persons unit, declaring them "the best of the best" and affirming that getting away with murder in modern Toronto is "pretty much impossible."
