Jax 2013 homicides edge over 2012, murder rate stays flat

Although it was a violent middle of 2013, the pace of homicides and murders slowed in Jacksonville through the end of the year.

A records request submitted by WOKV has shown the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office recorded 94 murders year-to-date this year, which is the exact same number as what we saw in 2012.  Just over one month ago, however, the tale was much different. Data we obtained shows there were 83 murders from January 1^st through November 18^th of this year, as opposed to 75 over that same span of time in 2012.

The rate of homicides was also considerably lower to end 2013 than one year ago. JSO says there have been 115 homicides in 2013, five more than last year. That means in the last six weeks of this year there were 12 homicides, significantly lower than the 21 homicides over the same time span last year.

A homicide involves a death with a person responsible, but without the malicious intent in a murder.

While this year ended virtually on par with last in the number of homicides and murders, several high profile cases remain unsolved this year- including four deaths in Murray Hill and the drive by shooting of Jazmine Shelton and Megan Simmons.

The Sheriff's Office says this year's relaunch of the Gun Bounty program is going well, however, and they hope to get more guns off the streets to hopefully cut back on gun related crime.  Since the May 24^th kick-off of the program, JSO says they have received 67 tips, 8 of which have resulted in arrests and guns being recovered.