About 77 percent of reported murders in 2020 were committed with a firearm, the highest share ever reported, up from 67 percent a decade ago. Murder rose over 35 percent in cities with populations over 250,000 that reported full data. It also rose over 40 percent in cities 100,000 to 250,000, and around 25 percent in cities under 25,000. reported in March that murder was up at least 20 percent in every region of the country, including around a 30 percent increase in the Midwest. One regional factor stayed consistent: Louisiana had the highest murder rate for the 32nd straight year.

Source: New York Times September 22, 2021 15:56 UTC