El Salvador Has First Murder-Free Day Since 2009

Drug violence usually kills more than a dozen per day
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 16, 2012 7:57 AM CDT
El Salvador Has First Murder-Free Day Since 2009
The body of a man shot to death lies in the street as investigators work the crime scene in Guatemala City, Feb. 7, 2012.   (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Saturday was a banner day in El Salvador, because as far as anyone can tell, not a single person was violently killed. That may not sound like much of an accomplishment, but for El Salvador it is; the last time the country had a homicide-free day was 2009, Reuters reports. The country is plagued by drug violence, and this year has averaged about 18 homicides per day. Its UN-listed homicide rate is 66 per 100,000 people, among the world's highest. (More El Salvador stories.)

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