By Associated Press - Friday, January 6, 2017

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Homicides in the city of Jackson rose more than 17 percent from 2015.

The Clarion-Ledger reports (https://on.thec-l.com/2hYyfF1) that there were 68 homicides in 2016, a figure that ties 2014 for the most homicides in more than a decade. Through the years, the homicide rate has gone up and down, dropping as low as 37 in 2009. There were 58 in 2015.

Jackson Chief of Police Lee Vance says the majority of homicides weren’t random. He blames them on a lack of conflict resolutions and says violent crime is down in almost every other category.

In December, Gov. Phil Bryant’s office spearheaded Operation Silent Night, an initiative involving local, state and federal authorities that resulted in 84 arrests. Vance says he hopes to work with federal partners in future similar operations.

___

Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, https://www.clarionledger.com

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide