NYPD Murder Report Offers Alarming Stats for Black Males

That overall crime is down in the city has been a major feather in the mayor’s cap—one that he touts often. However, even as crime continues to drop, murder rates have gotten worse, according to a recent report by The New York City Police Department.

The NYPD released its murder statistics for 2010, and the overall outlook in Brooklyn is sobering— particularly for Black males, whose homicide numbers across the board are most alarming.

The report, entitled, “Murder in New York City: 2010,” found the number of homicides is up in the city – 536 in 2010 – and 42 percent of them occurred in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn had the highest murder rate among all the boroughs, with the neighborhood of East New York leading in murders – 33 in 2010.

However, despite a borough-wide increase, Bedford-Stuyvesant’s reported murder rates in both precincts have dropped or remained the same in the past year, compared to this same time in 2010.

In the 79th Precinct, overall crime is down 18 percent so far, compared to last year at this same time. And in the 81st Precinct, overall crime is down 12 percent, compared to last year at this same time.

“Murder in New York City: 2010”

Report At-A-Glance

Where:

Brooklyn—42%

Bronx—24%

Queens—19%

Manhattan—12%

Staten Island—3%

When:

43% were killed between the hours of 11:00 pm – 5:00 am

Why:

Dispute/Revenge-- 51%

Drugs—12%

Domestic—14%

Robbery/Burglary—9%

Unknown—10%

Other—4%

How:

Shot—61%

Stabbed—21%

Bludgeoned—7%

Physical Force—7%

Other—4%

Murder Victims: Who They Were

• Black people, who make up 25% of New York City’s population, represented 67% of those murdered
• Non-Hispanic whites or Asians, who make up 47% of the city’s population, represented 9% of those murdered
• Black males, age 15-29, who represent less than 3% of the city’s population, represented 33% of those murdered
• Of all women murdered, 21% were killed with a firearm.
• Of all men murdered, 74% were killed with a firearm
• Of black males murdered, age 16-21, 90% were killed with a firearm
• Of the people murdered in incidents related to domestic violence, 69% were female
• Of female whites assaulted and killed in 2010, all but one were murdered in incidents related to domestic violence
• For black suspects arrested, 85% of their victims were also black
• From 2009 to 2010, there was a 31% increase in the murder of blacks
• From 2009 to 2010, there was a 27% decrease in the murder of whites
• From 2009 to 2010, the number of Asians and Hispanics murdered remained nearly the same