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.

  Chief Craig, crime, January, murders, police, Shootings

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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