Homicide

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports that there were 16,110 victims of homicide in 2002, reflecting an 0.8 percent increase over 2001. (Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2003. Preliminary Uniform Crime Report, 2002. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

In 2002, the number of murders increased in the South by 2.1 percent and in the West by 5.2 percent. There were declines in the Northeast of 4.8 percent and in the Midwest of 2.8 percent. (Ibid)

Between 1993 and 2001, there were 160,396 murders and non-negligent manslaughters of persons age 12 or over reported to the FBI (this number excludes the events of September 11, 2001). A weapon was used in 91 percent of these crimes. (Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2003. Weapons Use and Violent Crime, 1993-2001. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

From 1993 through 2001, blacks accounted for 46 percent of homicide victims, 54 percent of victims of firearm homicide, but 12 percent of the U.S. population. Blacks are nine times more likely to be victims of gun-related homicides than whites. (Ibid.)

From 1994 through 1999, about 7 in 10 murders at school involved some type of firearm, and approximately 1 in 2 murders at school involved a handgun. (Ibid.)

Almost one third of the female victims of homicide in 2001 were slain by their husbands or boyfriends, whereas 2.8 percent of the male victims were slain by their wife or girlfriend. (Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2002. Crime in the United States, Uniform Crime Reports, 2001. Washington, DC: U.S.Department of Justice.)

Among youth in the United States between the ages of 5 and 19, there were 2,358 homicides in the years 1998-1999. Thirty-three of the homicides occurred while they were at school. (Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2002. Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2002. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

Between 500 and 600 children under the age of five were murdered annually between 1976 and 1999. In 31 percent of the crimes, the perpetrator was the father; in 30 percent, the perpetrator was the mother; and in 23 percent, the perpetrator was a male acquaintance. Six percent were killed by relatives, and 3 percent by strangers. (Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2001. Uniform Crime Reports: Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1976-1999. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

Of all murder victims, 11 percent were killed by an intimate. Of all intimate murder victims, 74 percent were female. Of all female murder victims, about 30 percent were killed by an intimate. (Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2001. Intimate Partner Violence and Age of Victim 1993-1999. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs’ (NCAVP) data collection for same sex domestic violence reported 7 same sex intimate partner homicides in 2001. (Baum, R. and Moore, K. 2002. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Domestic Violence in 2001. New York. National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.)