Memphis Breaks Its Record Of Most Homicides In A Year

Memphis hit a grim milestone over the weekend when it recorded its 230th homicide of the year, surpassing the city's all-time high set in 2016. The city hit the number on Monday, WREG reports, after a child was fatally shot.

In 2016, reports show 228 people were killed in Memphis. Of the 230 homicides this year, 205 have been recorded as murders, while at this time last year there were 129 murders. Also so far in 2020, 26 children have been killed, according to WREG.

In July, the city recorded 43 homicides, a staggering number compared to the previous month's 29 and July 2019's 15.

"The highest number we have ever recorded was in 2017, where in one month we had 29 homicides. So for the month of July we had 43," said Mike Williams, Memphis Police Association president, calling July's number astronomical. "When you talk about a city of 660,000 people, that is what keeps propelling us to the second or third most violent city in the nation per capita."

Williams told WREG in July that the increased numbers could possible stem from the pandemic and the social unrest that was growing across the country.

"I think all of it's a contributing factor," he said. "The stars lining up but lining up for bad."

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