When city police responded to a call early Wednesday and found a man gunned down at the intersection of Goodfellow and Page, St. Louis recorded its 160th murder. This tops last year’s total of 159 and continues a pace that will far outdistance the 120 murders in 2013.
While St. Louis’ jump is one of the largest in the nation, it is not alone in experiencing a spike in murders.
Baltimore had more than 40 murders in May and July, respectively, and police had recorded 270 homicides this year. In 2014, Baltimore had 211 murders. The city is on track for the nation’s largest percentage jump.
Milwaukee recorded its 121st murder on Tuesday, compared to 104 murders in 2014. Through October 20, the city is facing a murder spike of more than 70 percent. Wisconsin’s largest city will most likely top the highest mark of this decade: 122 murders in 2005.
As of October 20, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan police had recorded 124 murders, compared to 86 in 2014, an increase of 44 percent.
Last year, New Orleans recorded its 100th murder during the first week of September. This year, its 100th murder was recorded on July 9. Last year’s 150 murders were the lowest number since 1971. So far, New Orleans Police have recorded 132 murders in 2015, with the latest happening October 12.
In the Chicago metropolitan area, there were a reported 435 homicides in 2014, and there have been 408 in 2015.
In addition, Kansas City, Dallas, New York, and Philadelphia remain on pace to top their respective murder totals from 2014. While St. Louis' per-capita murder rate tops these areas because of its smaller population, it is not alone in enduring an upswing in homicides.
