The Natives are Restless - Sharp increase in homicides in D.C

59 homicides up from the 38 at the same point last year

By Andrea Noble

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The Washington Time

Homicides in the District are up by more than half in the first six months of the year. But unlike the days when drive-by shootings and feuds among drug gangs propelled the deadly violence, the current uptick is the result of a spike in domestic killings behind closed doors that have contributed to more female homicide victims already than in all of 2013.

Through Monday, the city recorded 59 homicides — up sharply from the 38 at the same point last year. The figure marks a drastic departure from a generally downward trend in killings in the nation’s capital over the past decade and from declines in other big cities so far this year.

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SEE ALSO: D.C. police: Fatal shooting sparked by dispute over a can of beer

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“Domestic violence is our biggest challenge in terms of homicides,” said D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/1/sharp-increase-in-homicides-in-dc-blames-on-domest/

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