The Center for Criminal Justice Research

The first section provides information about recovered firearms in terms of characteristics of individuals involved, followed by general descriptions of the recovered firearms. The second section presents information on firearm and non-firearm homicides reported by IMPD during the period 2004-2010. Data used to compile this report was obtained from sources within IMPD, primarily from databases maintained by the IMPD Crime Analysis Unit, IMPD Information Services personnel, and the IMPD Robbery-Homicide Branch (including the Firearms Investigation Unit).

Shots fired radio runs. This is a user-defined database developed by the IMPD Information Services Office from a text search of radio calls sent by the Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency (MECA) that contained terms such as weapon, bullets, gunshot, firearm, shooting, holster, handgun, and other terms that directly and is indirectly linked to firearms. This database is maintained by the Firearms Investigation Unit of the IMPD Homicide and Robbery Division. With respect to the types of crimes associated with firearms recoveries, the number of individuals classified as suspected-possessions in firearms recoveries has generally remained unchanged in the broad categories of gun-related and drug and weapons crimes.

From 2008 to 2010, there was a sharp decline in the number of individuals involved in firearm recoveries related to offenses classified as interpersonal violence. Semi-automatic handguns typically account for about 60 percent of all firearm recoveries in any given year. The North Eastern district was the source of more than 1 in 4 firearm recoveries; in fact, half of all recovered handguns came from the North and North-Eastern districts during this period.

Additionally, the composition of firearms recoveries varies slightly by IMPD district in which they occur.

Shots fired calls for service have declined during the 2008-2010 period

Firearm recovery cases, persons, and weapons have declined 2008-2010

While generally flat since 2004, monthly rates for all four metrics peaked in 2008 and have declined since

Although the number of NICS firearm purchase checks increased steeply 2008-2010, the number of illegal firearms recovered by IMPD declined

Numbers of persons involved in firearm recovery cases have declined during the 2008-2010 period

After a peak in 2008, monthly rates of suspects-possessors involved have declined

The number of found or other status firearms dropped substantially from 2009-2010

Gun recovery cases are far more likely to involve males than females, although the 2010 proportion of female suspects-possessors was the largest since 2004

Nearly two-thirds of gun recovery suspects-possessors typically fall between the ages of 16 and 30

The 21-30 year old category is the primary age cohort involved in firearm recovery incidents in every year

In terms of race in any given year, typically two-thirds of firearm recovery suspects-possessors are Black

Gun recovery cases are far more likely to involve men than women, although the proportion of female suspects in 2010 was the largest since 2004.

Blacks 16-20 years old (17 percent) and 21-30 years old (32 percent) comprise about one-half of firearm recovery suspects-possessors

Blacks in the same age categories comprised about 60 percent of other involved persons/associates linked to firearm recoveries

The numbers of individuals classified as suspect-possessors in firearm recoveries have remained generally flat in the broad categories of weapon-related and drugs and guns offenses

There has been a steep decline 2008-2010 in individuals involved in firearm recoveries linked to offenses classified as interpersonal violence

From 2008 to 2010, there was a marked drop in all offenses classed as interpersonal violence, except homicide-related

The number of persons classified as suspected possessors in firearm seizures has generally remained the same across the broad categories of gun-related, drug and firearms offenses. The trend in monthly firearm recoveries peaked in late 2007 and has declined slightly since then.

The trend in monthly firearm recoveries peaked toward the end of 2007, and has been declining slightly since

The lowest reported quantity of firearm recoveries coincided with the merger of the IPD and Marion County Sheriff's department

The highest volume of recoveries was reported for in November 2009 (linked to the November 2, 2009 recovery of 98 firearms at a single address in far southwestern Marion County)

The composition of firearm types recovered from 2004 to 2010 has changed little

Semi-automatic handguns typically comprise about 60 percent of all firearm recoveries in any given year

Handgun recoveries peaked in 2008 then declined; other firearms peaked in 2009, then declined

The Northeast district is the source of more than 1 in 4 firearm recoveries during the seven-year period

One-half of all recovered handguns came from the North and Northeast districts during this period

The Northwest district had the highest proportion (84 percent) of handguns among all firearm recoveries; the Southeast district had the lowest (68 percent)

All IMPD districts reflect a decline in firearm recoveries from 2009 to 2010

The largest 2009 to 2010 declines in firearm recoveries occurred in the Southeast (-31 percent), Southwest (-26 percent), and Northeast (-25 percent) (not shown in table)

Maps examining the density of homicides from 2004 to 2010 identify several heavy clusters that were the site of a disproportionate number of firearm homicides. While most are similar in the days and times they occurred, firearm homicides and non-firearm homicides exhibit slight differences. During 2004 to 2010, firearm homicides were more likely to occur in the evening hours (approximately two-thirds occurred between 7p and 6a) than non-firearm homicides (approximately half occurred from 7p to 6a).

A slightly higher proportion of firearm homicides occur on weekend days, while the majority of non-firearm homicides in a single day (20 percent) occurred on Wednesdays. Firearm homicides involve a disproportionately high percentage (88 percent on average) of male victims; In contrast, about 61 percent of non-firearm homicide victims are men. In particular, men between the ages of 21 and 30 are the leading victims of gun homicides, although in 2010 this cohort reflected the smallest share of gun homicides (26.9 percent) during that period.

Black homicide victims were 3.8 times more likely to be killed by a firearm than white victims. White victims of gun homicides tended to be slightly older than Hispanic or black victims. To illustrate, gun homicide victims under the age of 20 were 18 percent of all black homicide victims, 19 percent of all Hispanic homicide victims, but only 9 percent of all white homicide victims.

When firearms were involved, the primary circumstance was defined as drug-related; murders by other methods were more likely to be the result of domestic circumstances. Circumstances of male victims tended to be drug or argument/fight related, while female gun homicide victims' circumstances tended to be domestic or revenge/revenge. For black and white gun homicide victims, the most common circumstance was drug-related (about 1 in 4 victims); for Spanish victims, the most common motive was related to robbery.

For the age group most victimized by gun homicides—those 21-30—more than half of homicides were drug-related (30.4 percent) or fights/fights (22.8 percent). For example, compared to a homicide victim with no such charges, a victim with a prior gun charge was 3.6 times more likely to die by gunshot. Of the 481 males who were killed by an offender with a firearm, the alleged perpetrators (487) were most often known (52.8 percent), followed by unknown relations (27.9 percent).

CRIMINAL HOMICIDES, FIREARM AND NON-FIREARM

From 2004 to 2010, the share of criminal homicides attributed to gunshot has ranged from a low of 67 percent to nearly 87 percent, and for all years averages about 80 percent
The number of criminal homicides generally—both by firearm and other weapons—has declined from peaks in 2007 and 2008
Both methods' next highest peak share of total homicides occurred at around 1a during the 2004-2010 period
While the proportion of homicides at different hours did not differ substantially between the methods, firearm homicides were more likely to occur during evening and early morning (about two-thirds occurred
Comparing firearm homicides to other methods, the respective proportion of total homicides were roughly similar for Mondays, Tuesdays, and the weekend
About 20 percent of other method criminal homicides occurred on Wednesdays, compared to only 12 percent of firearm homicides
More than 36 percent of all homicides occurred between 6p Friday and midnight Sunday (not shown in figure)
Males were considerably more likely than females to be homicide victims in firearm deaths
Males 21-30 years of age were typically been the primary victims of firearm homicides, although in 2010 this age cohort reflected its smallest share of firearm homicides (26.9 percent) reported in the 2004-2010 period
In 2010, there was a substantial increase in older male firearm victims 41-50 years of age, and younger male victims, 16-20 years of age
Firearm homicides
Non-firearm homicides

If murdered, the odds that the method used was a firearm varied by race/ethnicity and gender
Black homicide victims were 3.8 times more likely to be killed by firearms than White victims
The odds of being murdered by firearms were similar for Whites and Hispanics until 2009 and 2010, when the odds of death by firearm for Hispanic victims became closer to that of Black victims
Hispanic victims were 1.8 times more likely than Whites to be killed by firearms during the 2004-2010 period
Overall, male victims were 4.8 times more likely than females to be killed by firearms
The primary circumstances of criminal homicides differed among victims by gender, age, and race/ethnicity
Circumstances of homicides also differed in terms of whether a firearm was involved or not
When firearms were involved, the primary circumstance was classified as drug-related; homicides by other methods were more likely a result of domestic circumstances
For Black and White victims of firearm homicides, the most frequent circumstance was drug-related (about 1 in 4 victims); for Hispanic victims, the most frequent motive was robbery-related
Older victims (> 60 years old) were linked proportionally more often to robbery-related circumstances, regard- less of whether firearms were used

Firearm
Non-firearm

Argument/fight circumstances were substantially more common for male than female homicide victims, regard- less of whether firearms were involved
Regarding firearm use in homicides, while homicide victims were much more likely to be male, circumstances for male victims tended to be drug-related or argument/fight; circumstances for female (firearm) homicide
In contrast to other methods, firearms were linked more frequently to retaliation/revenge circumstances, regardless of gender
Regardless of race, the 21-30 year old age group had the largest numbers of criminal homicides by firearm
Overall, White victims of firearm homicides tended to be slightly older than Hispanic or Black victims

Victims under 20 years of age were 18 percent of Black victims, 19 percent of Hispanic victims, but 9 per- cent of White victims
Victims 41 years and older comprised more than 40 percent of White victims, but 10 percent of Hispanic and 4 percent of Black victims

During 2004-2010, for every murder by other means, 3.8 murders by firearm occurred
For all criminal homicides from 2004-2010, about 72 percent of victims had at least one previous arrest; nearly 62 percent of victims had at least one previous drug, weapon, or crime against persons charge
Victims with previous arrests or criminal charges were more likely to be killed by firearms. In comparison to a homicide victim without such charges

A victim with a previous crimes against person charge was 2.8 times more likely to die by firearm
A victim with previous weapon charge was 3.6 times more likely to die by firearm
A victim with previous drug charge was 3.4 times more likely to die by firearm

Of the 481 males who were killed by an offender with a firearm, the suspected offenders (487) were most commonly acquaintances (52.8 percent), followed by unknown (27.9 percent)
Of the 68 females who were killed by an offender with a firearm, the suspected offenders (90) were most commonly acquaintance-friend to the victim (42 percent), followed by domestic-intimates (26.7 percent), or
For every non-firearm homicide with no suspects, there are 4.3 with one or more suspects
For every firearm homicide with no suspects, there are 6 with one or more suspects
Circumstances considered to be drug-related were much less prevalent in non-firearm homicides
Circumstances classified as domestic were more predominant in non-firearm homicides
Gang-related circumstances were proportionally more common for Hispanic suspects
Considering firearm homicides, drug-related circumstances were minimal for Hispanic suspects, in contrast to more than one in four White and Black suspects
Regarding Black suspects in non-firearm homicides, domestic circumstances were reported nearly half the time
Overall, robbery-related circumstances are slightly more common for White suspects in firearm and non- firearm homicides
In firearm homicides, robbery-related circumstances were absent for Hispanic suspects
Revenge and argument/fight circumstances were linked to 63 percent of Hispanic suspects, but comprised only 27 percent of White and 36 percent of Black suspects in firearm homicides
White suspects were less likely than Black or Hispanic suspects to use firearms in criminal homicides character- ized by revenge, robbery, or unknown reasons
Black and Hispanic suspects were more likely than White suspects to use firearms in murders linked to argument/fights
Drug-related homicide suspects showed similar use of firearms regardless of race or ethnicity
Suspects linked to domestic homicides were least likely to have used firearms
Having previous charges of any type increased the likelihood of firearm use in criminal homicides
Having a previous weapon charge made suspects most likely to use a firearm in homicides
Compared to previous drug or weapons charges, previous crimes against person charges had a smaller increased effect on firearm use in homicides
When firearms were not used in the homicide, solved rates were always higher from 2004 to 2010
Overall, about 7 out of 10 criminal homicides were classified as solved during this period
Firearm homicides from 2006 and 2009 reflected the lowest solved rates

In contrast, victims 41 and older make up more than 40 percent of white victims, but only 10 percent of Hispanic and 4 percent of black victims. While the proportion of homicides at different times did not differ significantly between methods, firearm homicides were more likely to occur during the evening and early morning hours (approximately one-third occurred from between 7p and 6a) than non-firearm homicides (approximately .half occurred from 7p to 6a) Comparing firearm homicides by other methods, the respective proportion of total homicides was roughly the same for Mondays, Tuesdays, and weekends.

More than 36 percent of all homicides occurred between 18 Friday and midnight Sunday (not shown in the figure). character). Hispanic victims were 1.8 times more likely than whites to be killed by firearms during the period 2004-2010. Overall, white victims of firearm homicides tended to be slightly older than Hispanic or black victims.

Victims under 20 were 18 percent of black victims, 19 percent of Hispanic victims, but 9 percent of white victims. For all criminal homicides, approximately 72 percent of victims had at least one prior arrest; nearly 62 percent of victims had at least one prior drug, weapons, or felony conviction. 62 percent of victims had at least one prior drug, weapons or felony conviction.

Victims with prior arrests or criminal charges were more likely to be killed by firearms. Overall, robbery-related circumstances are slightly more common for white suspects in firearm and non-firearm homicides. Revenge and argument/fight circumstances were linked to 63 percent of Hispanic suspects, but accounted for only 27 percent of white and 36 percent of black suspects in firearm homicides.

Having prior charges of any kind increases the likelihood of firearm use in criminal homicides.