Los Angeles Violent Crime Rate Skyrockets in First Weeks of 2021
Los Angeles, CA – In a series of tweets, the Los Angeles Police Department announced a shocking surge in violent crime statistics just over two weeks into the new year.
Homicides in South LA, the LAPD Twitter account said, are up 150% over this time last year. Police said that the South LA area accounts for around 42% of the total homicides. Additionally, the number of victims shot in South LA are up and astonishing 742%.
Shootings are up 234% in the area, which accounts for 65% of the shootings in the entire city. So far this year, 130 illegal firearms have been recovered off the streets in South LA, and 105 arrests have been made for “possession of firearms & related crimes.”
Victims Shot in South LA are up 742% compared to last year.
This tragic continuation of gun violence, primarily concentrated in our most disadvantaged neighborhoods, must stop.
Gang Interventionists are trying…but we must all work together to stop the violence—to save lives. pic.twitter.com/22hOj4wYiU
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) January 18, 2021
The tweets pleaded with the community to help police in getting these staggeringly high crime statistics under control. LAPD said on Twitter, “It’s our shared responsibility—law enforcement, community members and elected officials—to stop this senseless violence.”
LAPD also said, “This tragic continuation of gun violence, primarily concentrated in our most disadvantaged neighborhoods, must stop. Gang Interventionists are trying…but we must all work together to stop the violence—to save lives. LAPD officers continue to work 24/7, upholding our motto, ‘to protect and to serve.'”
Police Chief Michel Moore said over the weekend that the crime surges have coincided largely with COVID-19 restrictions.
