HOMICIDE
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An estimated 16,272
persons were murdered nationwide in 2008, a 3.9 percent decline from
2007.
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In 2008, for homicides in which the age of the victim
was known, 11 percent of murder victims were under 18; 32 percent were between
the ages of 20 and 29; 20 percent were between the ages of 30 and 39; 14
percent were between 40 and 49; 10 percent were between 50 and 64; and 4
percent were ages 65 and older.
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Teenagers (ages 13 to 19) accounted for 13 percent of
murder victims in 2008.
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Fifty-one children were killed by their babysitter in
2008.
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In 2008, 78 percent of
murder victims were male and 22 percent female.
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Where the age and sex of the offender was known,
homicide offenders in 2008 were most often males (90 percent) and adults (84
percent).
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In 2008, 48 percent of homicide victims
were white and 48 percent were black. For
4 percent of victims, race was classified as "other" or "unknown."
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In 2008, homicide was generally intraracial where the
race of the victim and offender were known: white offenders murdered 83
percent of white victims, and black offenders murdered 90 percent of black
victims.
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In 2008, for homicides in which the type of
weapon was specified, 67 percent of the offenses were committed with
firearms.
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Knives were used in 13 percent of murders, and personal
weapons (e.g., hands, fists, or feet) were used in approximately 6 percent of
murders.
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In
2008, where the victim-offender relationship was known, 23 percent of victims
were killed by family members and 22 percent were killed by
strangers.
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In 2008, homicides occurred in connection with another
felony (such as rape, robbery, or arson) in 15 percent of incidents.
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Seven percent of murder victims in 2008 were robbed
prior to being killed. Of female murder victims, 1 percent were raped prior to
being killed.
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During 2007, 1,760 children died due to child abuse or
neglect. More than three-quarters (76 percent) of these children were younger
than 4 years of age.
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Law enforcement cleared (by arrest or exceptional
means) 64 percent of the murders that occurred nationwide.
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In 2008, 41 law enforcement officers were feloniously
killed in the line of duty; 37 were male and 4 were female.
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Of the 41 officers feloniously killed, 9 of the slain
officers were involved in arrest situations; 8 were performing traffic stops;
7 were investigating suspicious persons/circumstances; 7 were involved in
tactical situations (e.g., high-risk entry); 6 were ambushed; 2 were
performing investigative duties; 1 was handling, transporting, or maintaining
custody of a prisoner; and 1 was answering a disturbance call.
Federal Bureau of
Investigation, "Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted: 2008, Tables 1
and 11" (Washington,
DC; GPO, 2009),
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/killed/2008/feloniouslykilled.html (accessed November 30,
2009).
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