The US homicide rate rose nearly 30 percent last year compared to 2019. The FBI reported Monday that the increase is part of a general rise in violence in the country.
In its annual crime statistics report, the FBI said nearly 1.3 million violent crimes were committed in the US last year, up 5.6 percent from 2019 and the first time that figure has risen in four years.
Nearly 18,000 murders were reported, the FBI said.
The FBI report flagged a link between the shooting and the killings. Gun killings account for more than two out of three such deaths, according to the data. The FBI, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, said there were more than 6.4 million property-related crimes, down 7.8 percent from a year earlier. This marks the 18th year in a row the figure has declined.
Although the number of homicides and homicides without negligence increased, the FBI said the number of robberies was down 9.3 percent and rapes was down 12 percent, while the estimated number of assaults aimed at inflicting injury was up 12.1 percent.
Regarding property crime, the FBI said the number of burglaries was down 7.4 percent and thefts were down 10.6 percent, but vehicle thefts were up 11.8 percent.
Collectively, victims of property crimes, including arson, lost $17.5 billion in 2020, the report said.
Law enforcement services across the US arrested 7.6 million people last year, including traffic offences, the report added. [vm/jm]
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