Violent deaths rise in Puerto Rico in second quarter of 2026
The Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico reported 199 violent deaths from April to June, including 137 homicides, an increase from the same period in 2025.
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- NotiCel reports the Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico recorded 199 violent deaths from April to June 2026, averaging about two per day
- NotiCel reports 137 of those were homicides, up from 112 in the same period of 2025, with 92 percent committed with firearms
- NotiCel reports 54 suicides occurred, up from 49 the prior year, with men comprising 77.8 percent of cases
- NotiCel reports about one in four violent deaths took place in San Juan and Ponce combined
Quarterly increase in homicides and suicides
Puerto Rico recorded 199 violent deaths between April and June 2026, according to preliminary data released by the Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico (IEPR) through the Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System. The figure represents an average of approximately two violent deaths per day, with victims reported on 80 of the 91 days in the quarter. NotiCel reported.
Of the total, 68.9 percent were homicides, 27.1 percent suicides and 4.0 percent other causes. This compares with lower numbers in the same quarter of 2025, when there were 112 homicides and 49 suicides. The IEPR data show the increase occurred in both categories. Approximately one in four violent deaths occurred in San Juan and Ponce. NotiCel reported.
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Homicide victim profiles
The report recorded 137 homicides. Of those, 88 percent of victims were men and 12 percent women. The age group most affected for both sexes was 20 to 39 years old. Firearms were used in 92.0 percent of the homicides. Homicides were reported in 39 of the island's 78 municipalities. The police areas with the highest rates were San Juan, at 8.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, and Carolina, at 6.4 per 100,000. NotiCel reported.
El Nuevo Día published a photo gallery illustrating how the second quarter was experienced. El Nuevo Día reported.
Suicide data and prevention note
There were 54 suicides in the period. Men accounted for 77.8 percent of victims. In contrast to homicides, suicides mainly affected older populations, with 44.4 percent in the 40-to-59 age group and 29.6 percent aged 60 or older. San Juan recorded the largest number of incidents. The highest rates by police area were in Fajardo, at 3.5 per 100,000, and Ponce, at 3.0. NotiCel reported.
The report includes a prevention note stating it is fundamental to offer support to those facing loneliness or discouragement. It lists the PAS Line at 1-800-981-0023 or 988 for help. NotiCel reported.
Where the sources differ
NotiCel and El Nuevo Día both cover the IEPR report on violent deaths in the second quarter of 2026. NotiCel supplies all the statistics, including the total of 199 deaths, the breakdown into 137 homicides and 54 suicides, the year-over-year increases, victim demographics, firearm use, geographic distribution and rates. El Nuevo Día's available text contains no numerical data and consists only of an invitation to view a photo gallery on the topic. The two sources do not conflict on any point; El Nuevo Día simply adds no substantive figures.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not provide final, non-preliminary figures. They give no information on specific amounts of money spent on prevention, details on individual incidents, law enforcement responses to the rise in homicides, or any announced next steps by government agencies beyond the publication of the data. No overall island-wide violent death rate per 100,000 inhabitants is stated.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Aumentan las muertes violentas en la Isla en comparación con el mismo trimestre del año pasado
- Reporting Aumentan las muertes violentas en la Isla en comparación con el mismo trimestre del año pasado
- Reporting Dos muertes violentas diarias entre abril y junio: así se vivió el segundo trimestre del año
How we checked this
NotiCel reported the large majority of the data and all specific statistics drawn from the Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico. El Nuevo Día contributed coverage focused on a photo gallery of the same period. The year-over-year comparison and all demographic details rest on the single NotiCel article.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.