With two weeks remaining in 2010, the number of homicides in the nation’s capital stands at 106. It’s quite possible that D.C. could finish out the year with fewer than 110 murders. This would be something to celebrate, a holiday present for Mayor Vince Gray, Police Chief Cathy Lanier, the homicide detectives and more importantly, the people who live east of Rock Creek or the Anacostia River. For that is where all but two of the year’s homicides took place. But beyond the great news on homicides, we are in the midst of a crime wave. More on that later.
Let’s put the homicides into perspective, assuming we don’t top 110. Last year the city recorded 132 homicides, so we can count 22 fewer deaths by violent means. In 2000 the police department’s figures show there were 242 homicides, which means there will be 132 fewer. Huge! In 1991, our most bloody year, there were 479 homicides. We are 369 to the good. More huge!
