Violence and Crime in the US Surges

Violent crime rates have been soaring across the US, as the global pandemic and nation-wide protests create the ‘perfect storm of distress.’

The summer season brings substantially higher crime rates in most parts of the country, causing many agencies to deploy more officers than usual to keep cities safe. This year, police departments are also struggling amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the challenges of safely battling civil unrest, and heightened political tensions.  Now, they also facing rising crime.   Fox News’ Stephanie Pagones compares crime data from across the country, reporting how cities have been affected by this year’s challenges.

Atlanta – Recent statistics released by the Atlanta Police Department reveal that from July 5 to July 11, murders increased by 6 as compared to the same time last year. In the same week, the Atlanta Police Department reported that there were 15 shootings and 32 victims, as compared to last year, which saw only 7 shootings and eight victims.

Most shockingly, over a 4-week period ending July 11th, Atlanta faced 17 murders, which is a 240% increase from the 5 documented in the same month last year.

Chicago – The Chicago Police Department reported 31 murders from July 6 – July 12, putting this years numbers up 417% from the same period last year. Within that same week period, police reported 83 shootings, an increase of 127%, compared to 41 shootings last year.

Chicago has seen almost 500 more shootings this year than last year, with 1,541 in 2020, compared to 1,059 in 2019.

Houston – Like other big cities, Houston is in the midst of a violent crime wave. Murders are up 200% this July as compared to July 2019, and up nearly 40% for the year. Police Chief Art Acevedo said at the time that the police department was particularly focused on drug trafficking and gang activity, noting a recent increase in drug-related murders.

Los Angeles – Los Angeles has seen a huge surge of violence in the last few months, reporting 19 murders from June 21 to July 5, compared to only nine in the same periods last year. The Los Angeles Police Department has reported 151 murders so far this year, an increase of 17, compared to the 134 reported at this time in 2019.

To make matters worse, the city’s leaders voted to slash the LAPD’s budget, cutting $150 million from the department’s $2 Billion budget, reducing the number of officers on the streets to the lowest level in a decade.

New York City – New York City has seen perhaps the worst increase in violence, as shootings have skyrocketed in New York City, with a 277% increase of 49 incidents from July 6 to July 12, compared to the 13 reported in the same week last year. These incidents totaled 60 victims, while last year’s incidents involved only 17 victims. The most recently reported 28-day period showed 239 shootings with 318 victims, more than three times the shootings for the same period last year, with only 77 shootings and 97 victims.  Police said 97% of June’s shooting victims were people of color.

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said at a conference earlier this month that this was “one of the most violent Junes we’ve had in recent history.”  He  explained that criminals feel “that the cops can’t do anything anymore, that no one likes the police, that they can get away with things, that it’s safe to carry a gun out on the street.” Monahan stressed that the spike in crime can not be attributed to a single cause. Instead, he explained, it is a combination of factors like bail reform , prisoners released from Rikers due to COVID, and courts that have been shut down, leaving individuals who have been up on gun charges walking the streets.

Philadelphia – As of Wednesday night, the Philadephia police Department reported 224 murders so far in 2020, a 25% increase compared to the 178 reported in the same period in 2019. Shooting numbers have also spiked, as incidents have increased by 55%, from 1,018 at this time lat year to 1,578 this year.

Portland, OR – Portland has seen nearly 50 days of protests following the death of George Floyd. Demonstrators start fires, launch fireworks, and graffiti public buildings like police precincts and the US courthouse. Authorities have responded with teargas and dozens of arrests.

Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolfe wrote in a statement earlier this month, “Instead of addressing violent criminals in their communities, local and state leaders are instead focusing on placing blame on law enforcement and requesting fewer officers in their community.”

This likely contributes to the city’s uptick in crime, including 42 shootings so far this month, compared to the past months that have averaged only 32 shootings.  Murder numbers are also up, with five people killed in the last two days.

Seattle – Seattle has seen a slight jump in violence in June, which officials have attributed to the police-free autonomous zone. Police moved in to disband the “Capitol Hill Organized Protest” zone following the two fatal shootings in the area.

Police Chief Carmen Best said that in addition to the fatal shootings, robberies, and assaults, violence and property crimes had occurred in the area. Best described the CHOP as “lawless and brutal”, recalling the “four shootings – two fatal-robberies, assaults, violence, and countless property crimes” that had occurred.