(WWJ) It's a troubling trend in Detroit and several other U.S. cities during the pandemic: A rise in violent crime.
Totaling up end-of-the-year numbers, Detroit Police Chief James Craig says murders in the city are up 20% in 2020, and nonfatal shootings are up 56%.
Craig believes pressures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including people living in isolation, are really taking hold.
"People are not handling disputes very well; that's probably a top factor in what's driving shootings and homicides," the chief told reporters. "People who are acquainted with each other and who get in disputes quickly escalate to violence."
Whether it's a family argument or something drug-related, Craig said people involved are quick to pull a gun.
"Again, a lot of that is people are not handling resolving deputes. And, again, part of it's the pandemic," Craig said.
The chief did point out that violence in Detroit is not increasing as as much or as rapidly as in some other major cities, including Chicago or New York. Craig also called out Philadelphia, which he said has seen its highest homicide rate in 60 years.
"Cities today are seeing violence crime numbers that mirror what we've seen in the late-80s, early 90s," Craig said. "And we knew what was driving the violence then."
Meanwhile, there is some positive news to report. Craig said that other types of crimes — including carjacking's and robberies — are down this year in Detroit, while they are up in other parts of the county.
