Indiana has the highest rate of black homicide victims in the nation, according to a new study by the Violence Policy Center.
The study found Indiana’s 213 black homicides in 2013, or 34.15 black victims per 100,000 people, was double the national average for black homicide victimization, which was 16.91 per 100,000 people.
The study also found the overall national homicide victimization rate in 2016 was 4.27 per 100,000; Indiana’s rate of black homicide victims is eight times that number.
The national black homicide rate decreased slightly from 2012, when it was 18.03 per 100,000 people, according to the same study done by the VPC a year ago.
The overall national homicide rate in 2012 was 4.50 per 100,000 people, remaining fairly stagnant from 2012 to 2013.
“The devastation homicide inflicts on black teens and adults is a national crisis, yet it is all too often ignored outside of affected communities,” according to the report.
The study was completed based on unpublished Supplementary Homicide Report data submitted to the FBI.
The data itself was collected by law enforcement reporting at the local level.
The most recent data is available for 2013.
A year ago, Indiana also made the list of top 10 states for black homicide victim rates but was ranked sixth, with only 25.48 victims per 100,000 people.
The second- and third-ranked states for 2013 were Missouri and Michigan, respectively.
Nationally, for black homicides in which circumstances could be identified, 68 percent were not related to the commission of any other felony, according to the report.
Of these, 51 percent involved arguments between the victim and the offender and 15 percent were reported to be gang-related.
The report also said a gun is the most common weapon used against black victims of homicide nationwide. The study found for black homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 84 percent were killed with guns, usually a handgun.
“In America, black men and women face a disproportionate risk of being murdered, a fact both alarming and unacceptable,” VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann said in a statement. “We hope our research will not only help educate the public and policymakers, but aid those national, state and community leaders who are already working to end this grave injustice.”
Alexa Chryssovergis
