The homicide rate for the City of Cincinnati increased 15% last year. The total for 2017 was 71 compared to 61 in the year before. The jump in the number of homicides came even though the number of shootings declined 4% and overall crime was down 2.7%.
Cincinnati Police say of the 71 homicide victims, 39 had an extensive criminal history. Police have been able to make arrests in 62% of the homicide cases.
These are the faces of the 71 homicide victims:
The total number of shootings in 2017 was 410 and that was down 4% from the 426 reported in the year before. This year the neighborhood with the most shootings was Avondale. Over the Rhine, the West End, Walnut Hills and Winton Hills round out the top five. The city reported the biggest drop in gun violence in District 3 that includes Cincinnati's west side.