Analysis: At least 75 shot, 17 murdered in Detroit in January

 

At least 75 people were shot and 17 murdered in Detroit in January, according to a Motor City Muckraker analysis of police records.

More than three-quarters of the victims were 35 or younger. The youngest victim was 4. He was fatally shot in the chest by his 4-year-old cousin, who found a gun.

The motives behind the shootings were wide-ranging. Two men in their early 20s were shot while trying to sell pot on Jan. 24. Arguments over separate dice games led to two shootings on the east-side. A 42-year-old woman fatally shot her husband after he shot her in the neck, accusing her of cheating on him.

The good news? Shootings are down 25% compared to January 2013.

Police Chief James Craig, beginning his first full year, pledged to reduce crime by 10%.

Detroit recorded 333 murders last year, a 14% decline from 2012.

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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