Demographic homicide comparison

The nature of a homicide -- who was killed and why -- has a profound impact on the odds that police will identify the killer.

Scripps Howard News Service analyzed 525,742 Supplementary Homicide Reports that local police sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation describing homicides and non-negligent manslaughter cases from 1980 to 2008. Percentages indicate whether police were able to identify the offender.

All Homicides ................... 70%
Male Victims .................... 68
Female Victims .................. 76

Non-Hispanic White Victims ...... 78
Hispanic Victims (All Races) .... 66
Black Victims ................... 67
Asian Victims ................... 69
American Indian Victims ......... 79

Infant to 4 Years Old ........... 90
5 to 9 Years Old ................ 87
10 to 14 Years Old .............. 80
15 to 19 Years Old .............. 69
20 to 24 Years Old .............. 68
25 to 34 Years Old .............. 69
35 to 44 Years Old .............. 72
45 to 54 Years Old .............. 72
55 to 59 Years Old .............. 72
60 to 64 Years Old .............. 70
65 to 74 Years Old .............. 70
75 to 84 Years Old .............. 70
85 Or More Years Old ............ 68

Victim Killed by Blunt Object ... 67
Victim Killed by Handgun ........ 68
Victim Killed by Knife .......... 78
Victim Killed by Beating ........ 81
Victim Killed by Shotgun ........ 84
Victim Killed by Rifle .......... 86
Victim Killed by Hanging ........ 52
Victim Killed by Other Guns ..... 60

Killed During Robbery ........... 68
Killed During Drug Violation .... 63
Alcohol & Drug Influenced Brawl . 90
Killed in Lover's Triangle ...... 98
Arguments Over Money ............ 95
All Other Arguments ............. 92
Gang-Related .................... 57
Circumstances Undetermined ...... 36

(Source: Scripps Howard analysis of the Supplementary Homicide Report provided by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division at Clarksburg, W.Va. The percentages and homicide totals in this chart differ from the figures reported in the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. The percentages here indicate whether police identified the suspect. The Uniform Crime Report shows the number of cases cleared through arrest.)