The violent crime price in California was up 3% final 12 months in contrast with 2022, in line with to new information launched this week, however the state noticed a major drop within the variety of homicides, persevering with a current downward development.
A report from state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s workplace counted 1,892 homicides in California final 12 months, in contrast with 2,206 in 2022, an almost 16% lower within the murder price per 100,000 folks.
Weapons proceed to be essentially the most generally used weapons in homicides, having a job in 73% of killings within the state final 12 months, in line with the legal professional normal’s report.
In 2023, roughly half of victims had been killed by a pal or acquaintance, whereas 29% had been killed by a stranger and 15% by a partner, guardian or little one, the report mentioned. Of the victims whose ethnicity was recognized, 47% had been Hispanic, 27% had been Black and 17% had been white.
“The information launched as we speak is crucial for understanding, stopping, and combating crime. I encourage native companions and regulation enforcement to overview the information and recommit to taking motion,” Bonta mentioned in an announcement.
“Whereas crime charges stay considerably beneath their historic highs, there may be at all times extra work to be executed to guard public security in our communities,” he mentioned.
In Los Angeles County, homicides elevated 8% final 12 months from 195 to 212, in line with the Los Angeles County sheriff’s 2023 Murder Report. Ninety-six of the circumstances in 2023 had been solved.
The information present that 155 killings in Los Angeles had been dedicated utilizing firearms, 100 of which had been gang associated and 4 of which concerned home violence. Ten slayings passed off among the many county’s homeless inhabitants.
Throughout the state, regulation enforcement companies recovered roughly 137,400 crime weapons with identifiable serial numbers and 36,000 crime weapons with out serial numbers between 2021 and 2023.
The Crime Weapons in California 2023 report additionally confirmed that 34,419 of the serialized weapons recovered may very well be traced to a complete of 1,597 distinct California firearm sellers. On common, every supplier bought or transferred 21.5 firearms that had been later utilized in against the law, the report mentioned.
