Homicides in Seattle rise — unlike in other major cities

The variety of homicides in Seattle rose barely within the first half of 2022 in comparison with the identical interval in 2021, metropolis figures present.

Why it issues: Seattle seems to be bucking a nationwide development.

• Throughout main cities nationwide, homicides declined within the first half of 2022 — although robberies and aggravated assaults rose from the identical interval final yr, Axios’ Russell Contreras writes from a midyear survey of enormous regulation enforcement businesses.

By the numbers: Seattle reported 25 homicides by June 30 of this yr, up from 22 throughout the identical stretch final yr, in line with the survey.

• Robberies, rapes and aggravated assaults additionally had been larger than within the first six months of 2021.

Of observe: The lower in homicides elsewhere wasn’t enormous. Throughout 70 large cities, the overall variety of homicides declined by about 2.4% within the first half of this yr in comparison with the final, per the survey.

Context: Seattle officers have warned that homicides this yr might exceed the 52 seen in 2020 — the best variety of homicides recorded within the metropolis in 1 / 4 century.

Sure, however: Even in that particularly violent yr, Seattle’s homicide fee was under the nationwide common.

• The CDC reported a nationwide murder fee of seven.8 homicides per 100,000 folks in 2020, whereas Seattle’s fee was 7.1 per 100,000.

The underside line: The brand new numbers are regarding, however they don’t imply Seattle is the nation’s homicide capital.