Murders and Violent Crime in California

Nov 16, 2017 | Security

Unfortunately in 2017, murders and violent crime are still with us in California.

On Tuesday, a gunman went on a rampage killing five people including his wife in the Rancho Tehama Reserve in Northern California. The shooter, Kevin Janson Neal, was free on bail for previously stabbing a neighbor. On the morning of the shootings, he killed the same neighbor and her husband, stole their truck and shot two more on his way to a nearby elementary school.

He tried to get in, but the quick actions of school officials who locked down the building prevented Neal from entering and doing more harm.

He was eventually shot to death by police.

The horrific event is just another reminder that the possibility of violent crime could be just around the corner for any of us. It also raises questions about how safe our communities really are.

LA’s Violent Crime Rate

Here in Los Angeles, the violent crime rate has been falling since 2002. That year, the rate reached 739. It was significantly higher than the national average at 272.2.

It reached its lowest point for the city in 2013 at 232.6 but appears to be on an upswing now. In 2016, it reached 399.7 while the nation rate was at 216.

The violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported violent crimes by the total population. That number is then multiplied by 100,000 to determine the rate.

Murders In LA

Last year, the city of Los Angeles experienced 293 murders. That is just over 24 murders per month. At the half-way point of November in 2017, there have been 256 killings citywide.

But that really doesn’t tell us how this year compares with last year. To get a better idea of where 2017 will end up, we can look at the average number of monthly killings over a ten-month period. In 2016 that number was 241.6, compared to 232.7 this year. It’s significantly less and shows progress in the right direction.

The Bottom Line

Events like Tuesday’s rampage make us all uneasy about our personal security. While the violent crime rate and number of murders have dropped, the figures are still significant and call for us all to take extra steps to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

If you have questions about personal security, call American Security Force at 855-722-8585.

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