DETROIT (WXYZ) — The city of Detroit is seeing an increase in criminal homicides and non-fatal shootings compared to this time last year.
Police say many of the murders in Detroit have stemmed from unresolved arguments that escalate to gunfire. The numbers of murders and non-fatal shootings are both higher than what was seen this time last year, police officials say.
Last year, the city saw 99 criminal homicides. As of June 18, 2020, there are 129 homicides, which is a 30 percent increase. The city had 266 non-fatal shootings in 2019. That has increased to 397 so far this year – a 49 percent increase.
And although homicides and shootings are up, robberies are down by 3 percent in the city, with 891 being reported by June 18, 2020, compared to 914 in 2019.
"I know I have a lot of groups who have approached the Detroit Police Department about how we got to get cops back in neighborhoods," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said.
On Friday, Detroit officials plan to elaborate on why crime numbers have jumped.
