We have already talked about the LA Times Interactive Homicide Map previously. But, I have just spent the better part of 30 minutes reading some of the stories behind the 500+ “murders” Los Angeles has seen this year.
Of interest is some of the stories and how the change depending on your neighborhood. Cyprus Park? 50/50 you got shot by a cop or you shot a cop. West LA? 1 Club fight that went too far, a meth addict that stabbed a 70 year old man and a 61 year old doctor seems to have killed his wife and himself.
Also in West LA I found a really disturbing story.. Here is the link. What is neat is, you look at the picture of the guy, you look at the neighborhood and you come to some assumptions. Then you read the story. Not a gang related incident, not a robbery related incident. Ryan Daniel Gonzalez stopped to intervene when he heard a guy fighting with a women in an alley.
I’m classifying this guy as a hero. I am not sure many people would have stopped to protect a woman that seemed in danger in some back alley. Read the story, realizing that there is only one story getting told.
posted by j k at 4:25 pm
At roughly the half-way point through the year, we have enough data for this to be significant… All crime down in Los Angeles except homicides.. Anecdotally, every report I hear is gang related.
From LAPD’s blog:
Crime Statistics June 21, 2008
%
posted by j k at 7:15 am
The LA Times web site shows various statistics and map information on the 197 homicides this year so far with a well done interactive searchable map. Check it out: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/homicidemap/
posted by s w at 9:52 pm
As described here, On March 5th, a 9 year LAPD veteran accidentally put a bullet through the wall of his home while cleaning his gun. The typical pattern is as follows:
- When first handling a gun, a person is either very safe or very unsafe.
- Shortly thereafter, people tend to practice relatively safe gun handling skills
- Some time after that, people become lax and accidents happen.
Next time you are handling a firearm, take a moment to focus on keeping yourself focused — there is no excuse for an unsafe negligent discharge.
posted by j at 9:05 pm
Here are the most recent crime stats from the LAPD..
Crime Statistics February 23, 2008
VIOLENT CRIMES 2008** 2007** % Chg
Homicide 60 50 20.0%
Rape 105 114 -7.9%
Robbery 1840 2043 -9.9%
Agg Assaults ** 1642 1774 -7.4%
Total Violent Crimes 3647 3987 -8.4%
PROPERTY CRIMES
Burglary 2633 3039 -13.4%
BTFV 4361 5087 -14.3%
Personal/Other Theft 3507 4034 -15.2%
Auto Theft 3153 3732 -15.5%
Total Property Crimes 13,654 15,892 -14.1%
Total Part I Crimes 17,301 19,873 -12.9%
posted by j at 9:18 am