Summary of Juvenile Homicides

2005-2008

Key Findings:
 2008 seems to be unique among the four years under analysis.

 In 2008, juveniles accounted for 11% of all victims (20 homicides), the
highest in the three year period.
o 2005: 6% of all victims juvenile (12 victims)
o 2006: 10% (17 victims)
o 2007: 7% (13 victims)

 The most common victim still tends to be African American male teens,
however African American female victimization is rising.
o African American males account for over three quarters of the juvenile
victims from 2005-2008
 African American females account for almost a fifth of victims
 African American females accounted for 35% of victims in
2008 alone

 In 2008, 42% of all juvenile victims had a prior record.

o Thirty-seven percent of juvenile victims from 2005-2008 had a prior
record

Other Points of Note

 Most juvenile victims were either between 13 and 17 (73%) years of age or under
a year old (13%)

 Juveniles accounted for 20% of the known assailants of juvenile victims.

 Analysis of Juvenile Homicides for calendar years 2005-2008

The following is a breakdown of the 62 juvenile homicides (persons 17 years of age and
under) for calendar years 2005-2008.
 2005: 12 (6% of total homicides)
 2006: 17 (10%)
 2007: 13 (7%)
 2008: 20 (11%)

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Homicide Branch has closed 40 of these 62
juvenile murders with arrest and 4 by administrative closure (71% closed). Eighteen of
these cases remain open.

The juvenile victim profiles are as follows: 47 (76%) of the victims are Black males and
12 (19%) of the victims are Black females. Two victims were Hispanic males (3%) and
one victim was a Hispanic female (1%). The ages of the murder victims are as follows:

17 years of age – 23 (37%)

16 years of age – 9 (14%)
15 years of age – 7 (11%)
14 years of age – 2 (3%)
13 years of age – 4 (6%)
12 years of age – 1 (1%)
11 years of age – 1 (1%)
9 years of age – 1 (1%)
8 years of age – 1 (1%)
6 years of age – 2 (3%)
5 years of age – 1 (1%)
2 years of age – 1 (1%)
1 years of age – 8 (13%)

Note: 45 (73%) of the juvenile murder victims are 13 to 17 years of age.

A total of 23 (37%) juvenile murder victims had juvenile records. 2008 accounted for the
highest number of victims with a prior arrest (42%).

Cause of death for the 62 murder victims are as follows:

Gunshot wound: 44 (71%)
Blunt Force Impact trauma: 8 (13%)
Stabbing: 2 (3%)
Asphyxiation: 1 (1%)
Drowning: 1 (1%)
Unknown: 6 (9%)
The following are the motives for the 62 juvenile murders:
Accidental: 1 (2%)
Argument: 11 (18%)
Child Abuse: 15 (24%)
Domestic: 2 (3%)
Drug: 2 (3%)
Witness Elimination: 2 (3%)
Gang: 5 (8%)
Gun Deal: 1 (2%)
Mistaken ID: 1 (2%)
Negligence: 1 (2%)
Retaliation: 13 (21%)
Robbery: 3 (5%)
Unintended Victim: 2 (3%)
Unknown: 3 (5%)

Of the 53 persons arrested for these murders, 11 were juveniles (20%), 42 were adults
(80%). Note: 1 adult was charged with 4 murders.