WASHINGTON (AP) The crack epidemic that began in the 1980s ushered in a wave of bloodletting in the nation's capital and a death toll that
ticked upward daily. Dead bodies, sometimes several a night, had homicide detectives hustling between crime scenes and earned Washington
unwelcome monikers such as the nation's "murder capital." At the time, some feared the murder rate might ascend to more frightening heights.
But after approaching nearly 500 slayings a year in the early 1990s, the annual rate has gradually declined to the point that the city is now on the
verge of a once-unthinkable milestone. The number of 2012 killings in the District of Columbia stands at 78 and is on pace to finish lower than
100 for the first time since 1963, police records show.
"It strikes me probably daily as I ride around the city, or sometimes when I'm sitting at home at night, and it's 10 o'clock and my phone's not
ringing. Or I get up in the morning, and I go, 'Oh my gosh, I've slept five hours," said Police Chief Cathy Lanier, who joined the department amid
violent 1991 street riots. "It strikes me quite often how different things are now."
The drop reflects a downward trend in violent crime nationwide and is in line with declining homicides in other big cities. Though killings have
risen in Chicago, New York City officials say homicides dropped to 515 last year from 2,262 in 1990. Houston police reported 198 homicides last
year, down from 457 in 1985, while Los Angeles ended last year with fewer than 300 after reporting nearly 1,100 in 1992. Across the country,
violent crime reported by police to the FBI fell by 3.8 percent last year from 2010.
Snippy said
9:19 PM, 11/23/12
Fucking Obama.
Cy Valley said
9:30 PM, 11/23/12
Rich lottery winner 1%'er Snippy has spoken.
Freddie Krueger said
10:08 PM, 11/23/12
So Snippy has wasted alot of money moving into that gay gated community to avoid, The Other....
Uke said
10:30 PM, 11/23/12
Hey Phreddie...why not prod your roo... Uh, Troll...who no longer shares your abode, although he's still your neighbor... Get him ta update the Philly murder numbers, since we only got a few weeks b'fore the year ends!
* The official criminal homicide statistics that will be submitted to the FBI as part of the national UCR reporting system for 2011 is 324; three homicides previously counted in the year-end statistics were ruled justifiable homicides by the District Attorney's Office.
Homicide Data
November 23, 2012 As of 23:59 Previous Day
297
18%
295
279
275
300
361
The above homicide statistics for 2012 represent the daily count (statistics reflect the accurate count during normal business hours, Monday through Friday) and year-to-date total for victims of homicide and are subject to reclassification according to the rules and regulations of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) guidelines. The homicide statistics above for years 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 have been submitted to the FBI as the final UCR numbers for the City of Philadelphia
Freddie Krueger said
12:20 AM, 11/24/12
On track to tie last year.
Uke said
1:04 AM, 11/24/12
Looks that way. But I suppose that's a good thing no matter how we finish up 2012! Seattle is not even in the same league with Philly, but 2012 will probably enter the record books for numbers of homicides here!
It's been a real nasty year for murder. Especially shootings... And those shootings happened all over the city. No one particular neighborhood was immune... The gun-play was random at best, with no explanation from law enforcement officials!
Snippy said
1:27 AM, 11/24/12
Guns don't shoot poeple. Poeple get in the way of bullets.
Freddie Krueger said
2:34 AM, 11/24/12
The perps moved from Philly to Seattle.
Uke said
2:35 AM, 11/24/12
Exactly! Tu damn many pholks just walkin' in phront oph gubs being phired...
DC on pace for fewer than 100 homicides in 2012
ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press
Updated 9:36 a.m., Friday, November 23, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) The crack epidemic that began in the 1980s ushered in a wave of bloodletting in the nation's capital and a death toll that
ticked upward daily. Dead bodies, sometimes several a night, had homicide detectives hustling between crime scenes and earned Washington
unwelcome monikers such as the nation's "murder capital." At the time, some feared the murder rate might ascend to more frightening heights.
But after approaching nearly 500 slayings a year in the early 1990s, the annual rate has gradually declined to the point that the city is now on the
verge of a once-unthinkable milestone. The number of 2012 killings in the District of Columbia stands at 78 and is on pace to finish lower than
100 for the first time since 1963, police records show.
"It strikes me probably daily as I ride around the city, or sometimes when I'm sitting at home at night, and it's 10 o'clock and my phone's not
ringing. Or I get up in the morning, and I go, 'Oh my gosh, I've slept five hours," said Police Chief Cathy Lanier, who joined the department amid
violent 1991 street riots. "It strikes me quite often how different things are now."
The drop reflects a downward trend in violent crime nationwide and is in line with declining homicides in other big cities. Though killings have
risen in Chicago, New York City officials say homicides dropped to 515 last year from 2,262 in 1990. Houston police reported 198 homicides last
year, down from 457 in 1985, while Los Angeles ended last year with fewer than 300 after reporting nearly 1,100 in 1992. Across the country,
violent crime reported by police to the FBI fell by 3.8 percent last year from 2010.
Get him ta update the Philly murder numbers, since we only got a few weeks b'fore the year ends!
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Year-End Totals
* The official criminal homicide statistics that will be submitted to the FBI as part of the national UCR reporting system for 2011 is 324; three homicides previously counted in the year-end statistics were ruled justifiable homicides by the District Attorney's Office.
Homicide Data
As of 23:59 Previous Day
18%
The above homicide statistics for 2012 represent the daily count (statistics reflect the accurate count during normal business hours, Monday through Friday) and year-to-date total for victims of homicide and are subject to reclassification according to the rules and regulations of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) guidelines. The homicide statistics above for years 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 have been submitted to the FBI as the final UCR numbers for the City of Philadelphia
It's been a real nasty year for murder. Especially shootings... And those shootings happened all over the city. No one particular neighborhood was immune... The gun-play was random at best, with no explanation from law enforcement officials!
Poeple get in the way of bullets.