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Columbus Homicides: A Closer Look at the City’s Violent Deaths in 2023

In the year 2023, the city of Columbus experienced a grim reality with 146 instances of homicides, where individuals lost their lives due to acts of violence committed by others. These tragic deaths are classified as homicides by the police, who diligently investigate each case, responding to crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, and collecting evidence in the pursuit of justice.

However, behind every homicide statistic lies a heartbreaking story. Each victim leaves behind grieving families, friends who now face an immense void in their lives, and a community burdened with additional trauma.

The year 2023 marked a somber milestone for Columbus, with a total of 666 lives lost to violence. This makes 2023 the third-deadliest year in the city’s history, following closely behind the devastating year of 2021, which recorded 205 homicides.

Explore the database: Take a closer look at the locations of homicides in Columbus since 2017.

Comparing 2023 to the previous year, Columbus witnessed a 4% increase in the number of homicides, with 146 violent deaths reported by December 15th, as compiled by The Dispatch. However, it’s important to note that this figure remains 29% lower than the city’s deadliest year, 2021.

One concerning trend that emerged in 2023 is a staggering 257% rise in domestic violence homicides, with 25 incidents reported. Additionally, the police identified 16 homicides linked to gang or “threat group” activity, while 21 homicides involved individuals associated with gangs or “threat groups,” regardless of the motive behind the crimes.

Gun violence continues to be a prevalent factor in Columbus homicides, responsible for 85% of all violent deaths in 2023.

Columbus Police have made progress in their investigations, identifying suspects and making arrests in 73% of the year’s homicides. Furthermore, they have successfully closed 23 cases from previous years.

Tragically, the majority of victims in 2023 were Black, accounting for nearly 70% of the total homicides (100 out of 146). In contrast, white individuals made up 23% of the victims.

The racial demographics of identified suspects align with a similar pattern, with 75% of suspects identified as Black (111 out of 147), while 17% are white. These statistics are based on data provided by the Columbus Police, which includes suspects identified from homicides in prior years.

A concerning aspect of the 2023 homicides is that a quarter of the cases resulted in the deaths of individuals aged 21 or younger, including 14 teenagers aged between 13 and 17. It’s worth noting that 41% of the suspects identified by the police also fall within this age group.

According to police data, 21 teenagers aged 13 to 17 have been charged with delinquency crimes related to homicides in 2023.

The timing of these violent incidents is also significant, with over three-quarters of the homicides occurring between 3 p.m. and 7 a.m. Specifically, 55 homicides occurred between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) witnessed 58 homicides.

Among the various police precincts in Columbus, the second precinct reported the highest number of homicides in 2023, with 13 cases. This precinct covers parts of North Linden and the Northeast Side. Meanwhile, the Near East Side and South Linden precincts each recorded 11 homicides. Interestingly, Precinct 17, situated on the Northwest Side and Far North Side near Dublin, had no reported homicides in 2023, as per police records until December 15th.

If you have any information regarding unsolved homicides, please contact detectives at 614-645-4730 or reach out to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

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