2006 murder rate tops in nation
By Brendan McCarthy
Staff writer
Using even the most generous population estimate, New Orleans finished 2006 as by far the nation's most murderous city, with more slayings per capita than other notoriously violent cities, including Gary, Ind., and Detroit, according to statistics released Monday by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Confirming the long-suspected but grim ranking, the city's 162 homicides gave it a per capita rate in 2006 of anywhere from 63.5 to 72.6 per 100,000 residents, depending on varying population estimates. Even with considerable population gains, the city is on track this year to easily rank among the nation's most murderous cities for 2007.
Crime in the United States
by Metropolitan Statistical Area, 2006
City of New Orleans Population 431,153 Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter 162
City of Detroit Population 884,462 Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter 418
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_06.html#d