Federal Way Police did not respond to a request for the city's homicide figures for the current year. This lack of data comes as a neighboring city, Kent, reports a substantial rise in homicides, and other nearby communities, Renton and Auburn, have provided their statistics.
As of Friday, October 23, 2026, Kent had experienced 16 homicides so far this year. This represents a 100% increase from the eight homicides recorded in all of 2025. The city of Kent previously recorded 12 homicides in 2024, 17 in 2023, and 10 in 2022.
During an October 20 Public Safety Report to the Kent City Council, Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla noted the significant spike. Chief Padilla indicated that Kent's homicide trend is likely more pronounced than those in most other area cities, stating he would be surprised if any neighboring city saw a bigger increase. For comparison, Renton has reported three homicides so far this year, and Auburn has reported one. Renton's population is estimated at 106,785, Auburn's at 87,256, and Federal Way's at 101,030, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while Kent's population stands at 136,598.
Chief Padilla further clarified that the homicides in Kent were not random acts of violence, indicating that victims often knew each other or met for a specific purpose. There have been 14 incidents contributing to Kent's 16 homicides this year, with two cases involving double fatalities. One such incident was a double fatal drive-by shooting on September 28 along South 272nd Street under the Interstate 5 overpass, for which no arrests have yet been made.
Kent Police have identified suspects in 12 of the 16 cases, representing 75% of the homicides. Seven suspects are currently in custody awaiting trial, sentencing, or a filing decision by prosecutors. Detectives are actively searching for five identified suspects who have not yet been apprehended. For the remaining four cases, Chief Padilla stated that police have solid leads and anticipate identifying suspects.
An analysis of the motivations behind Kent's homicides reveals that domestic violence was the leading cause, accounting for 31% of cases. Arguments or altercations were responsible for another 25%, including a double killing that occurred at a family barbecue. The motive remains unknown in 18% of the cases. Additionally, 12% were identified as gang-related, and 6% were connected to robbery. While drugs were not explicitly listed as a primary cause, Chief Padilla noted that gang-related violence, robberies, and some altercations can involve drugs, even if the direct data does not categorize them as drug trafficking.
Regarding the demographics of those involved in Kent's homicide cases, 55% of the identified suspects are between the ages of 35 and 54, and 27% are between 18 and 34. Ten male and one female suspect have been identified. For victims, 62% were between 18 and 34 years old, with 13 male and three female victims. Firearms were involved in 56% of the killings, knives in 25%, and hands, ligatures, or physical blunt force contributed to 18% of the deaths.
Chief Padilla stated that the department maintains an 80% clearance rate for homicides and that detectives continue their work on unsolved cases. He affirmed the department's commitment to solving these crimes and providing justice for victims and their families.
While homicides in Kent have significantly increased, other crime categories, with the exception of the number of shootings, have shown a decrease compared to 2025. Shootings encompass incidents where shots were fired, regardless of whether a person, object, or only the ground was hit. Chief Padilla emphasized that despite the increase in homicides and shootings, the city is experiencing a downward trend in almost every other category of crime, marking the third consecutive year of overall crime reduction.
