| Violent Crime Victimization |
| Q: |
How does the type of weapon used vary with victim age in homicide cases? |
| A: |
Of the 52,320 juveniles murdered between 1980 and 2006, half (50%) were murdered with a firearm. |
Weapons in juvenile homicides, 1980-2006
| Weapon |
Age of victim |
Victim ages 0-17 |
| 0–17 |
0–5 |
6–11 |
12–14 |
15–17 |
Males |
Females |
|
| Total |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
| Firearm |
50 |
|
10 |
|
41 |
|
66 |
|
78 |
|
60 |
|
30 |
|
| Knife/blunt object |
14 |
|
11 |
|
19 |
|
17 |
|
14 |
|
12 |
|
16 |
|
| Personal* |
19 |
|
48 |
|
11 |
|
5 |
|
2 |
|
15 |
|
28 |
|
| Other/unknown |
17 |
|
31 |
|
29 |
|
12 |
|
6 |
|
13 |
|
26 |
|
|
| Note: Detail may not total 100% due to rounding. * Personal includes hands, fists, or feet. |
|
[ Excel file ]
- Between 1980 and 2006, more than 3 of every 4 (78%) victims ages 15 to 17 were killed with a firearm.
- Nearly half (48%) of all murdered childen below age 6 were killed by offenders using their hands, fists, or feet.
- Male murder victims were twice as likely as female victims to be killed with a firearm.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/victims/qa02309.asp?qaDate=2006.
Released on October 24, 2008. Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Kang, W. (2008). Easy Access to the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports: 1980-2006. Available on-line at: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/ezashr/. Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Supplementary Homicide Reports for the years 1980–2006 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, D.C.: FBI.
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