Last year, Amarillo saw another increase in homicides, marking the second year-over-year increase in a row, and the highest homicide total in a decade.
There were 16 total homicides in the city last year, reports The Amarillo Globe-News. That’s five more than in the previous year of 2016, and nine more than in 2015. Last year’s homicide victims ranged in age from eight months to 69 years old. This second year in a row of homicide increases marks the reversal of a trend.
From 2007 until 2016, the city averaged 11 homicides. During that period, despite population growth in the city, the homicide numbers had been trending downward.
The city saw 19 homicides in 2007, but that number shrank to seven in both 2014 and 2015. However, APD officials cautioned citizens not to read too much into changes in such a small sample size.
