NCJ Number
145753
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1993) Pages: 831-834
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Because the incidence of gang homicides in Los Angeles County has increased faster than that of nongang homicides over the past decade, this study compared characteristics of gang homicide victims with those of nongang homicide victims for 1987.
Abstract
A gang-related homicide was defined as death of the victim at the hands of another, where either the victim or the assailant was a gang member and where the homicide occurred in a gang context. All of the 1,186 homicide victims in the study had complete autopsies. In most cases, concentrations of ethanol, phencyclidine, benzoylecgonine, and opiates were determined in the blood of victims. Case records were reviewed to ascertain decedent age and sex, time and date of injury, cause of death, place of injury, whether death involved a driveby shooting, and whether the decedent was hospitalized before death. In the 1,186 cases, gang members were more likely to be young black men who died of gunshot wounds. Gang homicides rarely occurred during daylight hours, but increased sharply in the evening and peaked between 8 and 9 p.m. Gang homicide victims were more likely to die of firearm injuries, especially in South Central Los Angeles. Most victims were in their teens or early 20's; less than 10 percent were over 35 years of age. Day of month and month of year were not significant predictors of homicide frequency. Driveby shootings were highly associated with gang homicides. 2 references, 1 table, and 3 figures