Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

New Orleans Again US Murder Capital

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 2, 2009 2:48 PM CDT
Email

(AP) – New Orleans is once again the US murder capital after briefly losing the title. Fresh FBI statistics show that with 64 killings per 100,000 people in 2008, New Orleans had the highest per-capita murder rate in the country, well ahead of second-place St. Louis, with 47 murders per 100,000 people.

The FBI's report bases its per capita number on a New Orleans population of 281,440 for July 1, 2008. The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center put the city's population for the first half of 2008 at 324,357. But even using the higher estimate, the city recorded 55 murders per 100,000—which would still lead the nation.

An aerial view of the Industrial canal that runs between the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.
An aerial view of the Industrial canal that runs between the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.   (AP Photo)
Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.   (AP Photo)
A handgun.
A handgun.   (AP Photo)
A FEMA trailer sits in the front yard of a home in the Lakeview section of New Orleans.
A FEMA trailer sits in the front yard of a home in the Lakeview section of New Orleans.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Silverbow7
Jun 3, 2009 2:07 AM CDT
I wonder if that is city wide or in just one of two hot spots like it is in my city...
wwwonderer
Jun 2, 2009 11:03 AM CDT
In all fairness, Illinois and Chicago get MORE than their share of 'attention'
RobN
Jun 2, 2009 10:57 AM CDT
Here's something constructive, figure out a way to elect yourself somebody who knows what the hell they're doing. One of the reasons that people make fun of New Orleans is its long and storied tradition of corruption and incompetance. Break the cycle. Secondly, feel free to make fun of Sacramento. All of California if you'd like; our current economic situation is deserving of all the scorn you can dish out. Thirdly, you're on the internet. People are going to comment and it's usually not going to be nice. Don't read if you can't take it all with a grain of salt. Fourthly, I'm actually pretty surprised that N.O. regained the number one spot; I was pretty sure you had shipped all the troublemakers off to Houston without a return ticket.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Hurricane Katrina • New Orleans • crime • Lousiana • Baton Rouge • murder rate

More Newser Stories

Nation's First Indian Gov. Vows to Clean Up Louisiana

Bush: 'Better Days Are Ahead' for New Orleans

Crime Rocks New Orleans

Feds Beef Up Presence in New Orleans

New Fad in New Orleans: Guns
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne