Most of the data came from three databases maintained by the California Department of Justice. The statistics revealed that the homicide rate decreased 4.3 percent from 1994 to 1995 and 2.7 percent from 1986 to 1995. The black homicide victim rate was more than 9 times that of whites and almost 2.5 times that of Hispanics in 1995. From 1986 to 1995 the homicide rate increased 55.6 percent for victims under 18 years of age and decreased 27.2 percent for victims ages 40 and over. The largest proportion of white victims in 1995 were age 40 and over, whereas the largest proportions of Hispanic and black victims were ages 18-29. A total of 65.7 percent of the victims knew the offender. Female victims were 15 times more likely than male victims to know the offenders. Seventy-four percent of the victims were killed by firearms. Figures and tables