z 
Taking a cue from Santa, the 2009 homicide list we maintain has been checked a 2nd time to look for discrepancies. We found three missing ones and added them to the list.
Added: Keith Benberry, 12/08/2009; Leonardo Macedo-Sotelo, 5/29/2009;
Marcus A. Gladney, 02/09/2009.
One name we HAD on our list was later determined to not be a homicide: Herschel Jenkins, 11/17/2009 who had walked away from LaRue Carter Hospital.
That brought the total up to 100 for the year.
While we were in the process of checking the list, homicide #101 occurred on the far-northwest side of the city.
So at this time the count has risen to 101. And there are 5 more days to go in the year.
The Indianapolis Star also has Wayne Trefry listed as a homicide at 2627 ‘Shebly’ (presumed to be ‘Shelby’) St. on 10/18/2009. But there is no corroboration of this through any other news source, so we have excluded it from out list. If any reader has information on this one, please email info@bartlies.com.
Tags: Homicides7 Comments
7 responses so far ↓
Actually the number is more like 99, police action shootings have never been included in the homicide rate.
True – at the local level.
However the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting database does track and report them as a separate statistic. For simplicity, and because they are infrequent, I elected to just mark them with the ’shield’.
Bart,
Correction: You mean far “northwest” side, not “northeast.”
I’m not sure why police action shootings wouldn’t be included in the homicide rate since self-defense shootings are.
I know that Abdul will be terribly disappointed if he can’t brag about how Ballard kept the 2009 homicide rate in double figures.
You’re right Paul, I had updated the database and didn’t change the article text after I discovered the error. Thanks for the correction.
I think Abdul is just trying to keep me honest. That’s a good thing. I’m trying to make sure none simply get forgotten, as I swear was happening before I started my own tally. The numbers varied wildly (by ten or so) from media report to media report when I decided to keep track of them. Now, as Matt Stone noticed, the media reports stay close to my number.
I think what’s key here (and the same went for the Peterson folks) is there is a difference between homicides, police action shootings and self-defense. The more accurate term would be what is the city’s murder rate (which would not include police action shootings and self-defense).
And for you Paul, I’d be more concerned about malpractice and not knowing the difference between the 4th and 5th amendments to the Constitution than what I post here.
There is a legal distinction. There is a social distinction. But in the end they are all violent acts which represent a real problem in the city, regardless of whether the number is ‘X’ or ‘X-3′; whether it it 3 digits or 2 digits; whether we are better or worse than Chicago, Detroit or NYC. Even a justifiable homicide is still a blemish on the city’s image.
I’m going to agree with Bart. Homicide is the act of one man taking the life of another. Police action shootings, self defense, and so on, while may be justifiable, should still be factored in and shouldn’t just be ignored.
Carl Brizzi himself used the homicide rate rather than the murder rate a couple weeks ago on his FM radio show Crimewatch. At the time he said it, it matched the # bartlies.com exactly. He isn’t afraid of using that statistic, so I don’t see why anyone else should be either. It’s still a decrease compared to last year, though I’d also argue that it isn’t really something that any one person can claim credit for (though they certainly will try)