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Report: Indiana black homicide rate leads nation

Posted at 12:17 AM, Mar 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-04 00:17:29-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana leads the nation in at least one dubious category: its rate of black homicide victims.

The Violence Policy Center released a study of national data from 2013 this week that put Indiana right at the top for black victims of deadly violence.

The study said Indiana had more than 34 black homicide victims per 100,000 people.

According to the same study, 90 percent of those victims were killed with guns.

MAP | 2016 Indianapolis Homicides | 2015 Indianapolis Homicides

Indianapolis had similarly disproportionate numbers. In 2015, the city had 144 homicides. Seventy-two percent of those victims were black. Of the 14 homicide victims this year to date, 78 percent have been black.

MORE | 2015 now Indianapolis' deadliest year on record

Ten Point Coalition leader Rev. Charles Harrison says areas of the city seeing the most success in reducing homicides rates are neighborhoods like Butler-Tarkington and the United Northwest.

"We're failing in Indianapolis because we have made this a police issue and the police cannot solve the social ills of our society today," Harrison said. "If we are going to be successful in address this in the state of Indiana, we have to get these neighborhoods involved."

The study ranked Missouri at number two in the nation, with Michigan taking third place.

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