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January 31, 2022

Beware: Violent Crimes Up 44% in THESE U.S. Cities

A new study found that murders in 22 U.S. cities increased 44% from 2019 to 2021.

“The number of 2021 homicides in the cities studied was 5% greater than in 2020 – representing 218 additional murders in those cities – and 44% greater than in 2019, representing 1,298 additional lives lost,” wrote the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), a nonpartisan criminal justice policy organization.

The CCJ’s study indicates a continued upward trend in violent crime, starting at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

The CCJ selected the 22 cities because their police departments provided “weekly updates for the period between January 2018 and December 2021.” The cities studied are:

  • Chandler, Arizona
  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Denver, Colorado
  • St. Petersburg, Florida
  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Louisville, Kentucky
  • Baltimore, Maryland
  • Detroit, Michigan
  • Omaha, Nebraska
  • Buffalo, New York
  • Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Memphis, Tennessee
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • Austin, Texas
  • Norfolk, Virginia
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Washington, D.C.

“While it is encouraging to see a slowdown in the recent homicide increase, the bloodshed continues, and at least 10 U.S. cities lost historic numbers of residents to murder last year,” CCJ senior fellow Thomas Abt said in a statement.

“This is not acceptable. We know there are multiple strategies with a track record of success in reducing violence. We need to break through our divisive politics and put these evidence-backed solutions in place now.”

Of the cities the CCJ studied, 16 reported an increase in homicides last year. St. Petersburg experienced a 108% spike.

“The elevated rates of homicide and serious assaults require an urgent response from elected leaders,” said Richard Rosenfeld, University of Missouri-St. Louis professor emeritus Richard Rosenfeld, the study’s co-author.

“A year ago, we concluded our 2020 crime report by noting that with so many lives at stake, the time to act is now. That message is as vital today as it was then.”

Source:

Murders rose 5% in 2021 compared to 2020; 44% compared to 2019: study

By T. Thompson
January 1, 2022

Congresswoman Carjacked at Gunpoint

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) was carjacked at gunpoint in broad daylight in Philadelphia.

According to her spokesperson Lauren Cox, Scanlon wasn’t harmed in the incident.

“Congresswoman Scanlon was carjacked at gunpoint in FDR Park following a meeting at that location. The Congresswoman was physically unharmed,” Cox said in a statement.

“She thanks the Philadelphia Police Department for their swift response, and appreciates the efforts of both the Sergeant at Arms in D.C. and her local police department for coordinating with Philly PD to ensure her continued safety,” the statement said.

Delaware State Police said five suspects were apprehended in Newark, Delaware, after finding them inside Scanlon’s Acura MDX in a parking lot. The names of the suspects were not made public.

“I’m appalled to learn of this violent crime that was perpetrated against my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon,” Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our city, and sadly, as we know, that hasn’t always been the case this year. It’s disheartening, and quite frankly infuriating, that criminals feel emboldened to commit such a reckless crime in the middle of the day in what should be a place of tranquility and peace—one of Philadelphia’s beautiful parks,” he continued.

The incident comes amid a notable spike in Philadelphia crime, with police citing at least an 80% uptick in carjackings in 2021.

Source:

Congresswoman carjacked at gunpoint, 5 in custody

By T. Thompson
December 26, 2021

Report: 60+ Felons Charged with Violent Crimes While Out on Bond

More than 60 Chicago felons were arrested again and charged with violent crimes while out on bond this year.

Reports show the charges included murder, attempted murder, and gun violence.

According to CWBChicago, Malik Perteet is the most recent felon to be rearrested while out on bond awaiting trial. In March, prosecutors charged the 22-year-old with felony gun possession after he allegedly exchanged gunfire with someone who shot at him at a gas station. An 11-year-old girl was killed in the crossfire by a bullet from the other gunman’s weapon, prosecutors said.

Records show that Chicago police also wanted to charge Perteet with reckless discharge of a firearm. Instead, he went home under electronic monitoring after posting a $7,500 bond.

However, the electronic monitoring didn’t prove to be much of a deterrent. According to prosecutors, Perteet shot and tried to kill a 17-year-old girl during a marijuana transaction earlier this month.

“He is the 60th person accused of killing, trying to kill, or shooting someone in Chicago this year while awaiting trial for a felony. A total of 92 victims are involved in those crimes,” CWBChicago reported.

Perteet is now being held without bond on charges of aggravated battery by discharging a firearm and first-degree murder.

Source:

At least 60 felons charged with violent crimes while out on bond in Chicago in 2021

By T. Thompson
September 28, 2021

Homicides up 30 percent, FBI says

According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report for 2020, homicides increased almost 30 percent from 2019.

The FBI confirmed that the data released Monday marks the first time in four years that the number of violent crimes in the US increased from the previous year.

Overall, crime was down 6 percent, but violent crime increased by five percent.

“In 2020, there were an estimated 1,277,696 violent crimes,” the FBI said. “When compared with the estimates from 2019, the estimated number of robbery offenses fell 9.3 percent and the estimated volume of rape (revised definition) offenses decreased 12.0 percent.”

According to CNN, the increase in homicides marked the “largest single-year increase” since the FBI began collecting data in the 1960s.

Last year saw 21,570 reported homicides. Most victims and offenders of violent crimes fell between the ages of 20 and 29.

However, the data is not comprehensive, as approximately 15 percent of eligible agencies did not participate. Among those cities that neglected to submit data are New York and Chicago.

Source:

Homicides up 30 percent in largest increase on record, FBI says

By T. Thompson
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