Local
Rate of Black Homicides Highest in PA
By Chris Forshey/AP
Jan 30, 2007, 08:52

Pennsylvania leads the nation in the rate of black homicides, with nearly 30 deaths per 100,000 black residents annually. That's according to a study released today by the Violence Policy Center, a nonprofit research group.

The study says firearms, especially handguns, were used in the overwhelming majority of the nation's 6,644 slayings with black victims. 85% of black victims were male.

Pennsylvania recorded 29.52 homicides per 100,000 black residents in 2004. That's the last year for which the F-B-I figures were available. Louisiana followed closely behind at 29.48 and Indiana was third with 29.3.

The national rate of black homicides was 18.71 per 100,000.


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