Murder in America - WSJ.com

Murder in America - WSJ.com

Murder in America

Explore an interactive database of killings committed in the U.S. from 2000 to 2010. You can sort by the race and sex of killer and victim, the circumstances of the killing, and many more variables. Click on a few sample searches to the right.
Or watch a short video showing you how to use this app.
Full Methodology here.

SAMPLE SEARCHES

Here are some examples to get started:

• Victim: Black Male
  Weapon: Firearm
• Location of murders: Texas
  Circumstances: "Brawl due to influence of alcohol."
• Location of murders: Arizona
  Circumstances: "Felon killed by police."
• Location of murders: Illinois
  Circumstances: "Juvenile gang killings."
  Weapon: Firearm.
• Circumstances: "Lover's triangle."
  Method: "Pushed/thrown out window."

• Select variables below to narrow your search.

• Reset all values »

• What

  Homicides

  
  

• Who

  Victim

  Race

  Sex

  Relationship (Victim to killer)

  
  

  Killer

  Race

  Sex

• How

  Using weapon:

• When

  Select a year:

• Where

  Select a state:

  Note: Florida data not available
  
  

165,068

murders between 2000-2010 in all states except Florida

Victims

Race

Killers

Race

Age

0-17 years old	14,306
18-39	99,853
40-64	38,603
Over 65	7,017
Age unknown	5,289

Age

0-17 years old	10,618
18-39	93,277
40-64	22,411
Over 65	2,193
Age unknown	60,874

Sex

Male	128,971
Female	35,777
Unknown	320

Sex

Male	126,164
Female	13,770
Unknown	49,439

Homicides

Other Arguments	39,686
Other	21,496
Robbery	10,812
Juvenile Gang Killings	8,451
Narcotic Drug Laws	6,523
Other - not specified	4,415
Felon killed by police	4,081
Felon killed by a private citizen	2,581
Argument Over Money or Property	2,231
Brawl Due to Influence of Alcohol	1,470
Gangland Killings	1,205
Lover's Triangle	1,168
Burglary	965
Brawl Due to Influence of Narcotics	887
All suspected felony type	802
Arson	540
Rape	440
Child Killed by Babysitter	357
Motor Vehicle Theft	276
Larceny	184
Institutional Killings	149
Other Sex Offense	121
Prostitution and Commercialized Vice	93
Gambling	65
Sniper Attack	40
Abortion	1

Justified Homicides (Felon killed by police)

Victim killed in commission of a crime	1,329
Victim attacked a civilian	967
Not enough information to determine	206
Victim attacked police officer	41
Victim attempted flight from a crime	23
Victim attacked fellow police officer	9
Victim resisted arrest	7

Justified Homicides (Felon killed by a private citizen)

Victim attacked police officer	2,405
Victim killed in commission of a crime	675
Not enough information to determine	369
Victim attacked fellow police officer	250
Victim resisted arrest	177
Victim attempted flight from a crime	131
Victim attacked a civilian	90

Relationship (Victim to killer)

Unknown	70,896
Acquaintance	27,966
Stranger	25,790
Other - known to victim	8,590
Wife	5,809
Girlfriend	5,279
Friend	4,641
Son	2,741
Other Family	2,727
Daughter	2,235
Boyfriend	1,775
Husband	1,320
Neighbor	1,299
Mother	1,255
Brother	1,128
Father	1,073
In-Law	712
Common-Law Wife	508
Ex-Wife	505
Stepson	356
Stepfather	324
Sister	306
Stepdaughter	262
Homosexual Relationship	257
Common-Law Husband	181
Employer	145
Ex-Husband	117
Employee	97
Stepmother	57

Weapon

Firearm	111,289
Knife	20,503
Other	11,364
Personal weapons	10,079
Blunt object	7,049
Strangulation	1,536
Fire	1,342
Asphyxiation	1,225
Drugs	638
Drowning	239
Poison	130
Explosives	53
Pushed/thrown out window	35

Geography

Note: Florida data not available

Years

2000	13,856
2001	14,876
2002	15,057
2003	15,294
2004	14,825
2005	15,682
2006	15,899
2007	15,739
2008	15,119
2009	14,678
2010	14,043

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By Rob Barry, Madeline Farbman, Jon Keegan, and Palani Kumanan. Source: FBI

Methodology

The FBI collects this data from the states, except for Florida. Florida doesn't use the FBI's guidelines when reporting additional information about homicides. The FBI data don't capture all homicides. The states' reporting is voluntary, and the country's thousands of police agencies aren't consistent in how they report. Some states, including New York, reported no justifiable homicides at all for some years. In recording the circumstances of a murder, the information recorded in the FBI data may capture only the relationship of the killer to one of the victims -- but not other victims -- in a given situation. Because of the unlimited number of scenarios in which a homicide can occur, the coding used in the FBI database may not explain the full set of circumstances involved.
The data in this interactive is best read as a big-picture summary of the crimes committed nationwide. Not all descriptions may be completely accurate, and further details of specific situations are not available. The information in this database does not reflect convictions for murder or other criminal charges.