AUSTIN, Texas — Gun violence is a continued point of discussion across the U.S., and major cities – including Austin – are no exception.
A recent report from the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) shows that in recent years, Austin's homicide rates were higher than the Texas average.
From January 2021 to December 2022, the state capital saw 142 total homicides. Of those murders, 80% involved guns.
The analysis showed a majority of the homicides started because of an instant dispute between people who didn't know each other. Other causes were personal and domestic arguments, drug-related issues, robberies and more.
Over a 15-year timeframe, the average homicide rate in Austin was four per every 100,000 people, with a spike in 2021. That year, the median was 8.3. It then decreased slightly to 7.1 in 2022.
From 2019 to 2020, homicide numbers grew by 38%, with an additional 74% increase from 2020 to 2021.
Of all the murders in the designated January 2021 to December 2022 timeframe, approximately 20% involved groups, which researchers defined as a wide range of dynamics and structures present in criminally active street groups like gangs. Working alongside the Austin Police Department, the NCJR found evidence to suggest at least 13 different gangs/groups most actively involved in gun violence across Austin.
The analysis also found that approximately 63% of all homicide suspects and victims were previously known by law enforcement. Many had been previously convicted, incarcerated or put on probation.
Additionally, the analysis found nearly 32% of victims homicide victims were 24 years old or younger and about half of suspects were in that same age group.
Despite the increase from 2020 to 2021, the report found homicides have decreased in Austin over the past two years.
The NICJR noted that the statistics included in the report did not include shootings involving law enforcement, instances of justified self-defense or accidental self-injuries.
To learn more, read the full report.