California’s violent crime rate increased 3% last year compared to 2022, according to new data released this week, but the number of homicides in the state fell significantly, continuing a recent downward trend.
California saw 1,892 homicides last year and 2,206 in 2022, a roughly 16% drop in the homicide rate per 100,000 people, according to a report from state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office.
According to the Attorney General’s report, guns remain the most common weapon used in homicides, with guns being used in 73 percent of homicides in the state last year.
The report found that about half of the victims in 2023 were killed by a friend or acquaintance, 29% were killed by a stranger, and 15% were killed by a spouse, parent, or child. Of the victims whose ethnicity was identified, 47% were Hispanic, 27% were black, and 17% were white.
“The data released today is vital to understanding, preventing and eliminating crime. We again call on our local partners and law enforcement to review the data and take action,” Bonta said in a statement.
“While crime rates are still well below historic highs, there is still work to be done to protect public safety in our communities,” he said.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s 2023 Homicide Report, homicides increased 8% last year in Los Angeles County, from 195 to 212. Of the 2023 cases, 96 were resolved.
The data showed that there were 155 firearm homicides in Los Angeles, 100 of which were gang-related and four involved domestic violence. Ten of the homicides occurred among the county’s homeless.
Statewide, law enforcement agencies recovered approximately 137,400 crime guns with identifiable serial numbers and approximately 36,000 crime guns without serial numbers between 2021 and 2023.
The 2023 California Crime Firearms Report also shows that 34,419 serial numbered firearms recovered could be traced back to a total of 1,597 California firearms dealers. On average, each dealer sold or transferred 21.5 firearms that were later used in crimes, according to the report.