Ferguson’s Violent Crime Rate Skyrockets in Aftermath of Brown Shooting

By Published on September 29, 2016

The city that saw Michael Brown’s death in 2014 experienced an almost 65 percent increase of violent crime in the year following the fatal shooting.

Ferguson, Missouri experienced 900 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2015, a sizable increase from 545 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2014. This represents a surge of 65 percent, as noted by Heather Mac Donald in National Review.

Compared to Ferguson, the national averages for violent crime were far lower. The national average was 362 per 100,000 residents in 2014, and rose to 373 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2015, according to FBI statistics.

In 2014, the year Brown died, Ferguson had a total population of 21,090. FBI crime statistics revealed that the city experienced 115 violent crimes and two murders.

The year after Brown’s death, 2015, the city had a population of 21,059 and saw 190 violent crimes and five murders.

Officer Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown on Aug. 9, 2014. Prosecutors and the Department of Justice investigation found that despite the clear instructions, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” Brown tried to grab Wilson’s gun. Wilson fatally shot Brown after he tried to charge Wilson.

The Ferguson protests that occurred thereafter contributed to the Black Lives Matter movement, with protesters chanting, “no justice, no peace” in the streets.

The year after Brown’s death also saw a rise in robbery and aggravated assault.

Aggravated assault went up 58 percent in Ferguson; there were 60 aggravated assaults committed in 2014 and 95 aggravated assaults committed in 2015. Robberies rose 60 percent as well. Ferguson saw 51 robberies committed in 2014 and 82 robberies done in 2015.

Ferguson witnessed an increase in the rise of violent crime the year before Brown’s death, though not at the rates seen after his death. From 2013 to 2014, Ferguson experienced an almost 14 percent increase in violent crimes.

 

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