“Homicides in St. Paul in 2023 Decline, But Still Higher Than Five Years Ago: A Look at the Victims”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Homicides in St. Paul in 2023 have shown a decline from recent years, but they still remain higher than they were five years ago. The city saw an increase in its homicide rate starting in 2019, with a peak of 40 homicides in 2022. As of Saturday afternoon, there have been 32 homicides reported this year.

St. Paul had an average of 17 homicides per year between 2010 and 2018. Police Chief Axel Henry expressed his dissatisfaction with the current numbers, stating that he will not be happy until the homicide rate reaches zero. He acknowledged that the numbers are still higher than they have been in the past 15 years and stressed the need to push them back down.

Although homicides have shown a decline, other types of gun violence have also decreased in St. Paul. There have been 72 fewer people wounded in shootings and 800 fewer reports of shots fired without injuries compared to the previous year. The city has been implementing a “safety net approach,” particularly since the establishment of the Office of Neighborhood Safety in 2022, to address the root causes of gun violence.

Out of the 32 people killed in St. Paul this year, police reported that four were a result of group or gang violence, and six were incidents of domestic or family violence. The police department plans to increase its Blueprint for Safety, a coordinated approach to respond to domestic violence and identify individuals at high risk of being killed.

In many known cases of homicides, the incidents were triggered by arguments or disputes that escalated into deadly violence. Chief Henry highlighted the normalization of gun use during conflicts, which he believes was not as prevalent 20 years ago. He emphasized the need for the community to work together to address this issue.

According to data reported to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, there have been 209 homicides in Minnesota as of November, compared to 246 in 2022 and 283 in 2021. In Minneapolis, there have been 84 homicides recorded this year, one less than the previous year. The average for the past three years was 91.

St. Paul police have maintained a high rate of solving homicides, with arrests or resolutions made in all but three cases this year. Chief Henry emphasized the dedication of investigators in solving these cases, stating that they work just as hard as they would if it were their own family member who was killed.

Several high-profile cases have shocked the community, including the stabbing of a teenager inside a high school, the killing of a youth hockey coach during a car break-in, the dismemberment of a missing mother allegedly by her boyfriend, and the shooting of a 14-year-old girl that injured others. Chief Henry emphasized that every murder has a significant impact on the victim’s family and loved ones.

The Pioneer Press looked back at the homicides in St. Paul this year and provided details of each case. One of the victims, Devin Scott, was stabbed inside Harding High School on February 10. Another victim, Yia Xiong, was shot by a police officer outside his apartment on February 11. Abdullah Arif was shot at a tobacco store on February 16. Larry Jiles Jr. and Troy Kennedy were fatally shot in a parking lot on February 25. Pierre Glass was stabbed on March 11. Gabriella Dehoyos was shot in the back of her head on March 13. Corrina Woodhull was killed during a Bible study on March 21.

The city of St. Paul continues to work towards reducing homicides and addressing the underlying causes of gun violence. By implementing strategies such as the Blueprint for Safety and the safety net approach, the city aims to create a safer environment for its residents..