Crime & Safety
2018 Was Philadelphia's Deadliest Year Since 2007
In 2018, homicides jumped up 11 percent from 2017, according to crime statistics from the Philadelphia Police Department.
PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia had a bloody 2018 unfortunately, as police data shows the homicide rate in 2018 jumped to the highest number since 2007 with an 11 percent increase from 2017.
According to homicide data on the Philadelphia Police Department website, 2018 saw 351 homicides.
2007 was the last time the murder rate was so high, as it topped out at 391 that year.
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The murder rate was trending down for several years, with a few years with spikes.
However, 2017 saw 315 homicides after a 277 were reported in 2016 and 280 in 2015.
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And 2019 saw its first homicide just a few minutes into the near year, according to NBC10.
About 15 minutes into 2019, Anibal DeJesus was shot and killed on the 3200 block of Tampa Street in Kensington, the outlet reports.
Recently, head of the police department's homicide unit Captain John Ryan was reassigned, but police did not say his reassignment was due to the homicide rate, according to CBS Philadelphia.
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