July 9, 2007
Petersburg counts three homicides in one week
Yesterday, there was a homicide/fire on the 200 block of Elm St. (near Central State Hospital). [via] Last Wednesday, there were 2 shootings, one on the 1000 block of Johnson and the other on the 600 block of Washington. [via] The homicide count is now 5 for the year.
Interesting math (for what it’s worth):
Richmond population (per VA state police), 2006: 192032
Number of homicides in Richmond this year [via]: 27
Rate of homocides in Richmond this year per 1000 people (based on the numbers above): 7.11
Petersburg population (per VA state police), 2006: 30479
Number of homicides in Petersburg this year: 5
Rate of homocides in Petersburg this year per 1000 people (based on the numbers above): 6.09
Interesting… there are those who think P’burg is a dangerous place compared to others around here….
It seems we are no different than Richmond in that regard.
Not that it’s a GOOD stat but at least we are not any worse.
Police make an arrest in relation to the Elm St. homicide/fire.
Oh, and the numbers above in relation to Richmond homicides are drastic improvements relative to prior years. E.g., today’s RTD reports that there were 47 homicides at the same time last year. (The article focuses on rap music that rants about the pressure police are putting on those who sell druges; the police take this as a sign they are doing something right.) See prior posts on Richmond’s reduction in crime and what it’s been attributed to.