Saskatchewan Homicide Numbers Remain Elevated Despite Slight Decrease in 2025
Saskatchewan RCMP officials have reported that while homicide numbers showed a modest decline in 2025 compared to the previous year, the province continues to grapple with persistently high levels of violent crime. According to police statistics, Saskatchewan RCMP investigated 31 homicide files involving 34 victims during 2025, with charges laid against 28 individuals in connection with these cases.
Five-Year Trend Shows Concerning Increase in Violent Crime
Supt. Joshua Graham, who oversees the RCMP Major Crimes Section responsible for homicide investigations across Saskatchewan, emphasized that police have observed a troubling upward trajectory in violent incidents over the past five years. "We're running into occasions where we're seeing multiple homicide files within a week, and there's really no explanation I can give for that," Graham stated during a recent briefing.
The 2025 figures represent a decrease from the record-setting 2024 statistics, when RCMP investigated 39 homicide files involving 41 victims—the highest number of homicide cases the force has handled in a single year. Despite this year-over-year reduction, Graham stressed that current levels remain "elevated" and present ongoing challenges for law enforcement resources.
Firearm-Related Offenses Complicate Investigations
A significant aspect of Saskatchewan's homicide landscape involves the prevalence of firearms in violent crimes. Over the past decade, approximately 30 percent of homicide victims in the province have been killed by guns, according to RCMP data. Graham noted that many firearms used in crimes—particularly rifles and shotguns—are stolen during residential break-ins and subsequently modified to make them easier to conceal.
"They do all sorts of weird things with them and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't," Graham remarked about offenders' handling of firearms, noting that improper ammunition use further complicates investigations. The collection and analysis of shell casings, along with matching them to fired bullets, adds layers of complexity to homicide cases that already strain investigative resources.
Investigative Challenges and Resource Constraints
The steady influx of new homicide cases creates significant challenges for RCMP investigators attempting to revisit unsolved cases from previous years. "It's very, very challenging with the continued increased load for our investigators to be able to go back to our homicides that occurred within the last five years in order to try to solve those," Graham explained.
This resource allocation dilemma means that while new cases demand immediate attention, older investigations may receive less focus despite their importance to victims' families and community safety. The situation highlights the strain on law enforcement capabilities when dealing with sustained high levels of violent crime.
New Tools and Cautious Classification Approaches
One development that offers potential improvement in addressing gun crime is Saskatchewan's new provincial ballistics laboratory in Saskatoon. Graham expressed optimism that this facility will enhance police capabilities in firearm-related investigations. "Hopefully through that increased ability when we do find firearms as well as shell casings fired at scenes, we can start generating a lot more data around that," he said.
Additionally, Graham noted that investigators face complex legal questions when dealing with firearms, including determining whether weapons qualify as firearms under Canada's Criminal Code. The RCMP also exercises caution when classifying homicides as gang-related, recognizing the nuanced nature of violent crime in Saskatchewan and avoiding oversimplification of criminal motivations and networks.
The persistence of elevated homicide numbers, combined with the specific challenges posed by firearm-related offenses, continues to demand significant attention from law enforcement and community stakeholders across Saskatchewan.
