The figures presented here contrast the age patterns of the killed with those arrested for killing in 1992. This pattern can be thought of as generally descriptive of age patterns for homicide for the total U.S. population across the study period. It also describes the homicide pattern for different races and genders within the U.S., and for total populations of other countries. Though there are differences in age patterns of homicide victims between races, gender, and age groups, the general pattern of change over time in rates of homicide for victims was consistent from 1920 through 1989. These statistics can be used to explore the causes of these trends, such as earlier physical than intellectual maturity for males, who are murderers and victims more often than females, and the increasing span of years of high activity, which put older persons at higher risk of homicide than previously believed. 8 figures and 1 reference