The homicide rate soared last year at a speed unseen since 1968, shows FBI data released on Sept. 26.
Almost 15,700 people fell victim to homicide in 2015, an increase of more than 10 percent (1,532 homicides) over the year before.
Fifteen cities were responsible for almost 40 percent of the increase, most notably Baltimore (133 more homicides), Chicago (67 more), Houston (61 more), Washington (57 more), and Milwaukee (55 more).
But even excluding these 15 cities, the homicide rate increased by more than 6 percent—a spike unseen for decades.
Nationally, the homicide rate rose from 4.4 people per 100,000 in 2014 to 4.9 in 2015.
Despite the increase, the rate is still lower than in 2009 and many decades prior to that. The last era of homicide rates below 5 per 100,000 ended in 1964.
It may be too early to judge what the 2015 spike means, but experts suggest a slowdown in policing and damaged community relations could be factors.
