Northampton Violent Crime Held Steady in 2025, Remained Below 2021 Peak

Pictured: the crime rate map provided by the Virginia State Police from their report.

By Linda Cicoira

Northampton County crime statistics released this week showed that 26 violent incidents were reported there in 2025, the same number as in 2024. The total was one incident lower than the totals reported in 2022 and 2023 and was nearly half of the 51 violent crimes reported in 2021. All the figures were gathered through a survey conducted by the state police.

Thirteen of the 2025 incidents occurred at residences, while seven occurred along roadsides, in parking lots, or at campsites. Three occurred at unspecified locations, two at commercial establishments, and one at an unspecified educational facility.

Two murders and two robberies involved the use of drugs. Two aggravated assaults involved the use of alcohol.

Eighteen of the victims were not injured, while two were wounded by gunfire, two had other major injuries, two had severe lacerations, one had an apparent minor injury, and one was unconscious.

There were three murders in 2025, two of which were cleared. The report stated that the figure represented a 200 percent increase compared with 2024. The deaths occurred at a residence, along a road, in a parking lot or at a campsite, or at an unspecified location.

Two of the murders involved a knife or another cutting instrument, such as an ice pick or an axe. A firearm was used in the other case.

One murder occurred during the day on a Tuesday. The days of the week on which the other two occurred were not included. One victim was an acquaintance of the offender. Another was a family member. No information regarding the relationship between the victim and offender was provided in the other case.

All the victims and offenders were male. Two of the offenders were black, and one was white. Two of the offenders were between 18 and 24 years old. One was between 45 and 54.

No rapes, forcible sodomies, or sexual assaults involving an object were reported in 2025, a decrease of 100 percent compared with 2024.

Three robberies were reported in Northampton County in 2025. One occurred at a residence. The other two occurred along roadsides, in parking lots, or at campsites.

A firearm was used in two of the incidents. Personal weapons, which include hands, fists, feet, arms, teeth, and other body parts, were used in the other robbery.

One incident occurred during the day on a Sunday. Another occurred at night on a Monday. Two of the robberies involved acquaintances.

Three males and one female were victims in the cases. One victim was black, the race of another was unknown, and two were white. Two victims were not injured. One victim was shot, and another had a different type of major injury.

All four offenders were male and between 18 and 24 years old. Two were black, and two were white. The race of an offender was unknown in one case.

One hundred portable electronic communication devices were taken. The amount of money stolen was listed as 50. Nothing was recovered, according to the report.

Twenty aggravated assaults were reported, with a clearance rate of 65 percent. That rate was down by more than 9 percent compared with 2024.

Eleven of the incidents occurred at residences, and four occurred along roadsides, in parking lots, or at campsites. Two occurred at commercial locations. Two more occurred at unspecified locations, and two were at unnamed educational facilities.

Firearms were used in nine of the assaults. Seven incidents involved a car, truck, or another vessel. Three involved unspecified methods, and two involved personal weapons.

Seven cases involved family members, three involved strangers, three involved intimate partners, and three involved acquaintances.

Twelve of the victims were male, and eight were female. Twelve were black, and eight were white.

Five of the victims were younger than 10, two were between 10 and 17, three were between 18 and 24, three were between 25 and 34, two were between 35 and 44, one was between 45 and 54, and two were between 55 and 64. The ages of two victims were unknown.

Sixteen of the victims were not injured, while one had a severe laceration, one had an apparent minor injury, one suffered a gunshot wound, and one had another major injury.

The assault offenders ranged in age from 10 to older than 65. Eleven were male, and five were female. Twelve were black, and four were white.

Sixteen violent offenses were cleared. They included six aggravated assaults, five weapons-law violations, two destruction-of-property offenses, two drug or narcotics violations, and one murder or non-negligent manslaughter.

Of those arrested, five were male, and two were female. Five were black, and two were white. Three were between 18 and 24 years old, two were between 25 and 34, and two were between 45 and 54.

Some of the crimes may have overlapped.