The Risk Professional: California's gangland killings

Figures released yesterday relate to the period prior to Harris becoming governor and therefore reflect on Arnold Schwarzenegger more than on her. But a few months in politics is a long time, Arnie is in disgrace, his marriage is in tatters and he has delayed his return to the big screen until the storm blows over. He is unlikely to get much credit for the good news in the report.

The falling homicide rate was mirrored by the rates of other violent crimes, which dropped in every category in 2009: robbery declined 8.6%; aggravated assault, 5.5%; and rape, 3%.

The number of gang-related homicides between 2008 and 2009 increased 18% – to nearly 40% of all homicides in California where the contributing circumstances were reported.

The proximate cause of death amongst the young is being shot. The majority of homicides in 2009 in the state – 70.5% – involved firearms. More than 84% of victims ages 18 to 29 were killed with guns, Although seemingly relatively good news, it is barely so to report that slightly more than 51% of victims over 40 were killed with guns.

But being beaten to death by an unarmed assailant was surprisingly common: besides firearms, the weapons used in 2009 homicides were knives (15.1%); hands and feet (5.5%); clubs and other blunt objects (5.3%); rope, drugs and all other weapons (3.6%).

Some 35% of 2009 homicides, where the contributing circumstances were reported, occurred as a result of an argument.

Another 8.4% occurred as the result of rape, burglary or robbery. Another 2.5 % were drug related, a decrease from 3% in 2008.

In cases where police could determine relationships, the majority of victims were killed by friends or acquaintances. Less than 30 percent were killed by strangers, the rest by family members.

Hispanics were homicide victims far more often than whites, African Americans or members of other ethnic groups; they accounted for 46.6% of all homicides in 2009.

Men were victims 82.2% of the time; women, 17.8%. Females were more likely to be killed in their residences, while men were more likely to be killed on streets or sidewalks.

Among those arrested in 2009 for homicide, 90% were male and 10% were female.

Gang-related homicides claimed more male victims than any other factor (46.2%).

Domestic violence claimed more female homicide victims (41.3%).

Homicide victims under the age of 5 overwhelmingly died as a result of child abuse (almost 90%).

Surprisingly, central areas of the big cities did not feature at the top of the tables for the most killings relative to population size. Unsurprisingly, the Napa district was at the bottom of the list.