IMPD Report: Most murders happen outside focus areas

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has released statistics for the number of killings so far in 2016.

According to IMPD, there have been 34 “criminal homicides” Jan. 1 – April 17. That number does not include the man found shot to death inside a car Monday, April 18, which will bring the number of murders to 35.

During the same time in 2015, the City of Indianapolis experienced 31 criminal homicides. The police department said the number of criminal homicides do not include police action shootings, self-defense, or negligent homicides. IMPD said so far this year there have been 6 non-criminal homicides.

Of the recorded 34 murders, police said seven (21 percent) are known to have been motivated by drugs. Police also said those seven victims died after being shot.

IMPD said 79 percent (27 murders) of the murders happened outside the city’s six focus areas and 21 percent (seven murders) happened within the department’s focus areas. Here’s a breakdown of how many killing have happened inside the city’s focus areas this year:

• West 16th Street. and North Tibbs Avenue.: 2016 – 1 (3 percent); 2015 – 2 (6 percent)
• West 29th Street. and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street.: 2016 – 2 (6 percent); 2015 – 6 (19 percent)
• West 34th Street. and North Illinois St.: 2016 – 0 (0 percent); 2015 – 1 (3 percent)
• East 38th Street. and North Post Road.: 2016 – 1 (3 percent); 2015 – 0 (0 percent)
• East 38th Street. and North Sherman Drive.: 2016 1 (3 percent); 2015 – 0 (0 percent)
• East New York Street. and North Sherman Drive.: 2016 2 (6 percent); 2015 – 0 (0 percent)

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said of the 34 murder victims, 21 (62 percent) had criminal histories. Police said the 21 people accounted for 114 adult felony arrests.

• 13 (62 percent) had a previous weapons arrest
• 13 (62 percent) had a previous drug arrest
• 15 (71 percent) had a previous crimes against persons arrest

Police said there has been one juvenile victim.

IMPD said of the 10 suspects where a name was known, six (57 percent) had a criminal history.

• Three (50 percent) had a previous weapons arrest
• Five (83 percent) had a previous drug arrest
• Four (67 percent) had a previous crimes against persons arrest

Police said there have been no suspects under the age of 18.

Here’s a look at the racial breakdown of the victims and their suspects:

• Black victim – Black assailant = 6
• Black victim – White assailant = 0
• Black victim – Hispanic assailant = 0
• Black victim – Unknown assailant = 21
• White victim – White assailant = 1
• White victim – Black assailant = 2
• White victim – Hispanic assailant = 0
• White victim – Unknown assailant = 1
• Hispanic victim – Hispanic assailant = 0
• Hispanic victim – Black assailant = 1
• Hispanic victim – White assailant = 0
• Hispanic victim – Unknown assailant = 1
• Asian victim – Asian assailant = 0
• Asian victim – Black assailant = 0
• Unknown victim – Unknown assailant = 1