Far Cry from the 90s: OKC Homicide Rate on Track to be Higher than Washington DC

[zookeeper]

I disagree. I don't think there's enough of a common thread in the murders to think that. If the trend continues next year I will be surprised. We haven't suddenly become an uncivilized city.

There's all kinds of studies linking increased homicide rates to many things that don't make a city suddenly uncivilized, but simply vulnerable at certain periods. I think it's a little too easy to say murder=drug crimes. I would guess it plays a role, but there's other things at play. Do you really think it's all drug related? The value of human life has plummeted, we're a culture of violence from the military drones to violent movies and video games. Put it all together and we reap what we sow.

[ljbab728]

Of course it's not all drug related and the value of human life has not suddenly lessened here in OKC compared to the rest of the US. One murder is absolutely too many but I'm just not convinced that this year isn't just an aberration.

[BG918]

#99 happened last night.
UPDATE: Name of man shot and killed in Oklahoma City released Friday | NewsOK.com

[ljbab728]

It's really sad when we refer to a person who's been murdered as #99.

[onthestrip]

Pretty interesting for a city in such a pro gun state that we are having such a high homicide count. Also interesting how NYC, which has very strict city gun laws is having one of its lowest homicide rates ever.

[Mel]

Chicago just logged their 500th.

[Questor]

OKC's population is 579k while Chicago's is 2.7 million. Their population is roughly five times ours. Our murder rate is nearly 100 and theirs is five times that at 500. In other words murder-wise we are basically on par with Chicago now. They're the same. It's shocking really.

[catch22]

Is our murder count strictly for Oklahoma City proper or is that a metro number?

[Questor]

Strictly OKC proper, as is Chicago's.

The OKCMSA is 1.2 million, while Chicagoland MSA is is around 10 million I think... it'd be interesting to tally all of that up and compare the two.

[adaniel]

Is our murder count strictly for Oklahoma City proper or is that a metro number?

OKC only. No suburbs.

[GaryOKC6]

Sounds like you have been hanging around with the wrong crowd of people. I personally do not have anyone know that thinks with the "Racist Oklahoman Mentality".

[bluedogok]

Pretty interesting for a city in such a pro gun state that we are having such a high homicide count. Also interesting how NYC, which has very strict city gun laws is having one of its lowest homicide rates ever.

Those same type of restrictive gun laws don't seem to work for Chicago...

How much of OKC's murder rate is gang/drug related? How much of it is domestic related? Finally how much is "random violence" related, I would imagine that the random violence numbers are fairly static per capita between even large cities and and small towns. Most murders happen between known persons or associates, rival gangs or cartels could be classified as "known associates". Domestic crime can happen anywhere, there was a person found murdered here in Friday in the suburb of Greenwood Village, in the Tech Center area which is not exactly known for that type of crime. The primary suspect is a former co-worker who had been fired two weeks prior because of sexual harassment.

[kelroy55]

Those same type of restrictive gun laws don't seem to work for Chicago...

How much of OKC's murder rate is gang/drug related? How much of it is domestic related? Finally how much is "random violence" related, I would imagine that the random violence numbers are fairly static per capita between even large cities and and small towns. Most murders happen between known persons or associates, rival gangs or cartels could be classified as "known associates". Domestic crime can happen anywhere, there was a person found murdered here in Friday in the suburb of Greenwood Village, in the Tech Center area which is not exactly known for that type of crime. The primary suspect is a former co-worker who had been fired two weeks prior because of sexual harassment.

Most of Chicago's murders are by gun and I think they have a much bigger gang problem than we do. I don't know the numbers but I wonder how many of the murders for both cities are gang related.

[BG918]

What is interesting is that while OKC recorded its highest number of homicides (99) in decades (second highest ever), Tulsa finished the year with the fewest homicides since 2002 (46). What happened this past year that would cause such a sea change?

[Plutonic Panda]

Chicago's 5th homicide of 2013 Beloved Chicago muffler store owner city