The city of Indianapolis is trending towards having another one of its most violent years in the last decade.

So far there have been 53 murders in Indianapolis, the second highest at this time since 2007.  The highest murder rate was in 2014, with 62 criminal homicides at this time.

The following is a list of stats based on data provided by the Department of Public Safety from January 1 – June 1.

Of the 53 murder victims, local adult criminal histories were found for 35 (66%) of the victims. These 35 people  accounted for 167 adult felony arrests.

Where criminal  histories were found:

  • 20 (57%) had a previous weapons arrest
  • 24 (69%) had a previous drug arrest
  • 25 (71%) had a previous crimes against persons arrest.

Of the 24 suspects where a name was known, prior local adult criminal histories were found for 18 (75%) of the suspects.  These 18 people accounted for 89 adult felony arrests:

  • 11 (61%) had a previous weapons arrest
  • 14 (78%) had a previous drug arrest
  • 14 (78%) had a previous crimes against persons arrest

There has been only one juvenile murder victim this year and no suspects under the age of 18.

The racial relationship between victims and their suspects was as follows…

  • Black victim – Black assailant = 13
  • Black victim – White assailant = 0
  • Black victim – Hispanic assailant = 0
  • Black victim – Unknown assailant = 30
  • White victim – White assailant = 4
  • White victim – Black assailant = 5
  • White victim – Hispanic assailant = 0
  • White victim – Unknown assailant = 2
  • Hispanic victim – Hispanic assailant = 1
  • Hispanic victim – Black assailant = 1
  • Hispanic victim – White assailant = 0
  • Hispanic victim – Unknown assailant = 3
  • Asian victim – Asian assailant = 0
  • Asian victim – Black assailant = 0
  • Unknown victim – Unknown assailant = 0

Eight (15%) of the 53 murders were known to have been  motivated by drugs.

Eight (15%) of the victims of known drug-related murders died as the result of gunshot wounds.

More than 70% of the city’s murders occurred outside of IMPD’s focus areas.

Blacks are about 25% of Indy’s population, and have been 81% of the murder victims.

*This does not include the double homicide that took place after December 27th.  My sources tell me there may be more to that than law enforcement is willing to release right now.