Jan 9, 2010 0
Jamaica Sets Record Year For Murders
According to statistics released by the police just yesterday, 2009 was a record year for murders in Jamaica. According to the stats, 1680 murders were recorded last year, 62 more than the 1618 that were recorded in 2008, and 6 more than the previous record year – 2005.
According to the stats, approximately 52 per cent (859) of the murders committed in 2009 “were due to intra-gang and internal gang feuds, in addition to reprisal killings”.
October was the deadliest month last year, with 177 murders being recorded, and there was no month when there were fewer than 100 murders recorded.
1292 (77%) of the deaths were attributed to the gun, and knives/machetes were used to kill 227 (13.5%) persons last year. Seventeen murders were committed during drive-by shootings.
There were 74 double murders, nine triple murders and three instances where more than three people were killed in a single incident in 2009.
163 women and 81 children were among those killed in 2009.
Interestingly, 240 murders were committed in the St. James Police Division, the highest number of murders recorded in any of the total 19 divisions. St. James has now topped the volatile St. Andrew South Division and Clarendon as the division with the most murders.
Interestingly also, of the 1680 murders committed last year, detectives were only able to clear up a staggeringly low 21%.