Baltimore surges past Detroit in number of homicides in 2015
Baltimore has become the second most violent city in America, a Baltimore Brew survey finds, with a homicide rate exceeded only by St. Louis
Baltimore has become the second deadliest city in America (after St. Louis) with homicides surpassing those of Detroit, the longtime poster child for urban violence.
During the first seven months of 2015, Detroit police reported 163 slayings. That compares to 189 killings recorded through July in Baltimore.
With 10% fewer residents than Detroit, Baltimore’s current homicide rate (deaths per 100,000 people) is running about 26% above that of the Motor City.
That’s quite a reversal from the recent past.
In 2012, Detroit had 411 homicides compared to Baltimore’s 219. The following year, Detroit had the highest murder rate among larger U.S. cities, according to the 2013 Uniform Crime Report published by the FBI, while Baltimore came in fifth (behind Detroit, New Orleans, Newark and St. Louis).
A memorial to 19-year-old Tyrin Diggs Jr., who was gunned down in West Baltimore on the night of May 22. (Photo by Mark Reutter)
But the surge in violence that followed Freddie Gray’s death and the April 27 riots – capped by 45 mostly gun-related homicides last month – has placed Baltimore at the forefront of deadly cities in America.
A
Baltimore Brew review of online police records at other large cities indicates that Baltimore has become the second most violent city in America, following St. Louis.
While other cities have experienced an increase in killings this year – including Chicago, New York City and Washington – none has spiked to the level of Baltimore (with the exception of St. Louis and Milwaukee).
On the other hand, several cities with traditionally high murder rates – such as Oakland and Newark – have reported no significant increase in slayings so far this year, while one notable crime hot spot – Camden, N.J., – reported a 20% drop in homicides compared to the same period last year.
Homicides in 20 Cities
Here is a breakdown of 2015 homicides in U.S. cities gleaned by T
he Brew from online police records
.Additional information came from the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association.
The list below is arranged by level of violence – going from the city with the highest homicide rate to the lowest.
It does not include all major U.S. cities, but instead is a sampling of 20 cities, including those with a historically high number of slayings.
PLEASE NOTE that the figures below are
half-year totals, which means that if fatalities continue at their current pace, the full-year homicide rate for these cities would be roughly double the rates listed below.
• St. Louis – 116 homicides as of August 4, up over 50% from the same period in 2014. Based on its population, St. Louis’ half-year homicide rate is 36 per 100,000 residents.
• Baltimore – 189 homicides through July 31, almost 60% more than the same period last year. The city’s rate is now at a historic high based on its population – 30 slayings per 100,000 residents. (During the 1970s, there were higher homicide numbers in some years, but the city had between 200,000 and 250,000 more residents then.)
• New Orleans – 103 homicides through mid-July, or 27 per 100,000 residents.
• Detroit – 163 homicides through July 31, or 24 per 100,000 residents.
• Newark, NJ – 52 homicides through July 26, or 19 per 100,000 residents.
• Camden, NJ – 16 homicides through through July, or 19 per 100,000 residents.
• Milwaukee – 95 homicides through August 1, or 16 per 100,000 residents.
• Cincinnati – 45 homicides through August 1, or 15 per 100,000 residents.
• Memphis – 91 homicides through July, or 14 per 100,000 residents.
• Washington, D.C. – 87 homicides through July, or 13 per 100,000 residents. (Homicides have increased by 26% over the same period of 2014.)
• Oakland, CA – 49 homicides through July, or 12 per 100,000 residents.
• Kansas City – 49 homicides through August 6, or 11 per 100,000 residents.
• Atlanta – 45 homicides as of June 30, or 10 per 100,000 residents
• Philadelphia – 154 homicides as of August 5, or 10 per 100,000 residents.
• Chicago – 252 homicides as of July 31, or 9 per 100,000 residents.
• Dallas – 74 homicides through July 14, or 6 per 100,000 residents.
• Los Angeles – 150 homicides as of Augusts 1, or 4 per 100,000 residents.
• Boston – 18 homicides as of August 2, or 2.8 per 100,000 residents.
• New York City – 196 homicides as of July 31, or 2.3 per 100,000 residents.
• San Diego – 17 homicides through June 30, or 1.3 per 100,000 residents.
Baltimore surges past Detroit in number of homicides in 2015 | Baltimore Brew
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