GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A 23-year-old man who was shot in the chest crashed his car and died, police said, a record 35th homicide this year in Grand Rapids.
Michigan’s second-largest city had nine homicides in 2018 and 18 last year. The previous record in Grand Rapids was 34 in 1993, police said.
The latest killing occurred Sunday night. Officers were attempting to stop a vehicle that was moving erratically when it crashed into a building. They discovered the driver had a gunshot wound.
“Officers began live-saving measures, and the victim was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead,” police said. “This homicide may be related to a shots-fired call that was called in at approximately the same time.”
The victim’s name was not immediately released.
“Enough is enough,” police Chief Eric Payne said in October after the 27th homicide.
“One homicide, one shooting even, is tragic and one too many, but to see the numbers that we have seen this year is outrageous and disheartening,” he said at the time.
Grand Rapids has an estimated population of 201,000.
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