Increase in Pr. George's non-fatal shootings
There was more than a little consternation within the Prince George's County Police Department when 16 people were killed in the county in the first month of the year.
Enforcement efforts were stepped up in communities inside the Beltway. Federal agents were called in to help.
And if not for a few bullets that went astray, it could have been worse.
Through March 4, Prince George's County police had recorded 15 non-fatal shootings -- incidents where a gun was fired, but the bullets either missed or did not kill the person they hit, according to data provided by the department. In January, the department recorded seven such incidents, according to the data.
Over the same time period last year, Prince George's recorded nine non-fatal shootings, according to the data. Eight of those came in January, according to the data. There were 62 for the whole year, according to the data.
Non-fatal shootings are typically not publicized, and police typically do not release the names of the victims because they are also witnesses.
Still, the numbers highlight how close the county may have come to further deadly violence. Prince George's County is up to 23 homicides, including two cases that were ruled justified, so far this year. If every shooting had proven fatal, Prince George's County would have had at least 38 homicides in just more than two months.
By
Matt Zapotosky
| March 11, 2011; 10:33 AM ET
Categories:
Crime Statistics, Matt Zapotosky, Pr. George's
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Time to send the little darlings to the range. Shoddy work will NOT be tolerated :)
Posted by: Tuscan02 | March 11, 2011 2:06 PM | Report abuse
Not that the PG County police aren't credible, but specifically what means are used to detect non-fatal shootings?
Posted by: clitteigh | March 11, 2011 5:16 PM | Report abuse
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