Los Angeles has hit 300 homicides in a year. This is the first time in a decade that LA has seen such numbers.
What We Know:
- The LAPD Twitter account posted a tweet about the increased violence. The tweet also links lacrimestoppers.org.
A number we have not seen in over a decade—300 homicides in a year. Senseless violence & tragic loss of life.
Our people are doing everything they can to stop the violence, but we need your help. If you have any info, report it. You can remain anonymous.https://t.co/Ti3qvwDM7Y https://t.co/xy0LBVsj56
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 22, 2020
- According to KTLA, Los Angeles is not alone with their increased violence; big cities around the country have experienced spikes in violence.
- LA has experienced far more violence previously, more than 1,000 homicides in the ’80s and ’90s. Recent decades have experienced less violence, not surpassing 300 since 2009. The city has seen a 25% increase in killings over the last year; shootings are up 32%.
- From Saturday into Sunday morning, there were four killings among other shootings in LA, the first of which was a 50-year old homeless man. Police found him at around 3 pm near the intersection of Long Beach Ave and East 25th Street. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe the suspect is also experiencing homelessness.
- The second victim was a 17-year-old boy riding a bicycle. Around 8:23 pm, officers were called to the 1700 block of Imperial Highway. Here, they found the boy suffering gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital. According to police spokeswoman Melissa Podany, the boy “was riding his bicycle in that general area when an unknown suspect approached in a vehicle and fired multiple shots”.
- A little before 9pm, police responded to another shooting. A 20-year-old man was found fatally wounded by gunfire near West 75th Street and South Broadway.
- Around 9:20pm, a double shooting occurred near Vermont Avenue and West 93rd Street. Unknown suspects opened fire, injuring a 37-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman. Both were transported in critical condition. The woman passed away a little after midnight local time.
- Additionally to the fatal shooting, several were left injured. Of those injured, a 19-year-old heard gunfire to which he pulled over then realized he had been hit. Around 11:30am, a 27-year-old man was approached by a group of four. According to Podany, they “demanded to know where he was from”. One of the suspects then fired two shots into the man’s car and fled. Later around 6pm, two 30-year-old men were shot by four people who rolled past in their vehicle. Lastly, around 7am the next day, a 19-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound.
The LAPD says anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip to lacrimestoppers.org. The LAPD will offer rewards in some cases.
