In 2010, the most recent year for homicide data, there were 14,748 homicides in the United States. This rate of 4.8 homicides per 100,000 people is a decrease from 2009, and down substantially from 1991 when the homicide rate was more than twice as high. Overall, homicide victims are primarily male, as are homicide offenders. Minorities are disproportionately affected by homicide; although only 13 percent[1] of the U.S. population is black, about one-half of homicide victims are black. Homicide also disproportionately affects younger people. By and large, homicide is perpetrated by someone known to the victim.
In 2010, 77 percent of murder victims were male and 23 percent female.[2]- The sex of the offender was known in 73 percent of homicides in 2010. Among those cases, 90 percent of offenders were male and 10 percent were female.[3]
- An estimated 14,748 persons were murdered nationwide in 2010—a 4 percent decline from 2009.[4]
- In 2010, 47 percent of homicide victims were white and 50 percent were black.
For 4 percent of victims, race was classified as “other” or “unknown.”[5] - In 2010, homicide was generally intra-racial in cases 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.[6]
- In 2010, for homicides in which the age of the victim was known, 10 percent of homicide victims were under 18;
33 percent were between the ages of 20 and 29; 20 percent were between the ages of 30 and 39; 13 percent were between 40 and 49; 12 percent were between 50 and 64; and 5 percent were ages 65 and older.[7] - For homicides in which the age of the victim was known, teenagers (ages 13 to 19) accounted for 12 percent of victims in 2010.[8]
- In 2010, in the majority of homicide cases in which the age of the offender was known, most offenders (92 percent) were 18 or older.[9]
- In 2010, for homicides in which the type of weapon was known, 68 percent were committed with firearms.[10]
- Knives or cutting instruments were used in 13 percent of murders, and personal weapons (e.g., hands, fists, feet, etc.) were used in approximately 6 percent of murders.[11]
- In 2010, where the victim-offender relationship was known, 38 percent of homicide victims were killed by an acquaintance, 22 percent were killed by a stranger, 18 percent were killed by an intimate partner (husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend), 15 percent were killed by a family member, and 5 percent were killed by a friend.[12]
- In 2010, homicides occurred in connection with another felony (such as rape, robbery, or arson) in at least 15 percent of incidents.[13]
- At least 6 percent of murder victims in 2010 were robbed in conjunction with being killed.[14]
- During 2008, an estimated 1,740 children died due to child abuse or neglect. More than three-quarters (80 percent) of these children were younger than 4 years of age.[15]
- Law enforcement cleared (by arrest or exceptional means) 65 percent of the murders that occurred nationwide in 2010.[16]
- In 2009, 48 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty; 47 were male and 1 was female.[17]
- Of the 48 officers feloniously killed in 2009, 15 of the slain officers were ambushed; 8 were involved in arrest situations; 8 were performing traffic stops; 6 were answering disturbance calls; 5 were involved in tactical situations (e.g., high-risk entry); 4 were investigating suspicious persons/circumstances; and 2 were handling, transporting, or maintaining custody of prisoners.[18]