Milwaukee reported 106 homicides in 2013 compared to 91 in 2012, a 16 percent increase. This is the first year since 2007 that homicides have surpassed 100 in a year. The 2013 total represents a 33 percent decline in homicides compared to 1990 and a 16 percent decrease since 2000.
“Our nation’s cities are enduring slow-motion mass murder every single year. We’ve got a problem—it’s too many firearms in the hands of criminals in the streets of urban America and I want us to take some practical steps to solve it,” said Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn.
Through the first six months of 2013, homicides were on pace for one of the lowest totals in years. An unusually violent August and September, with 20 and 14 homicides respectively, accounted for nearly a third of all homicides in the city.
According to Chief Flynn, the spike in homicide numbers can be partly attributed to infighting among gangs. In response to the increase in homicides in August, the Milwaukee Police Department, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and MPD’s District 5 Central Gang Task Force, directly addressed the threat and identified several violent gangs and increased patrols in target areas. Those groups are also engaging with citizens and community stakeholders to help cultivate information about suspects and victims.
Of the 2013 homicides, 82 were by gun, an increase from 75 in 2012. 83 percent of 2013 homicide victims were men and the median ages of the victims and suspects were 27 and 25 respectively. 89 percent of suspects and 77 percent of victims had at least one prior arrest by Milwaukee Police.
2013 also saw an increase in family violence homicides. 16 family violence homicides were reported in 2013 compared to 6 in 2012. (An unusually low number of family homicides occurred in 2012.) Family violence homicides include domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, and shaken baby deaths.
The Milwaukee Police Department remains committed to reducing violence in the community and helping create neighborhoods capable of sustaining civic life by continuing to engage in community-based, problem-oriented, and data driven policing strategies.
