Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – In the latest report released this week, there has been a decline in homicides in 2023 for the city of Oklahoma City. This decrease is significant, especially considering that the numbers remain higher than before the coronavirus pandemic took hold. The decline in homicides has been a trend across a cross-section of American cities, according to a new report analyzing data from 30 U.S. cities.
In 2022, Oklahoma City recorded 74 homicides, which decreased to 72 for the year 2023. Notably, the number for 2023 includes fentanyl-related deaths, a factor that had not been counted in previous years. According to Gary Knight of the OKC Police, seven of these deaths are due to fentanyl, marking a shift in the way these fatalities are recorded.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics reported 326 fentanyl-related deaths in 2022, emphasizing the drug’s status as the fastest growing killer in Oklahoma and throughout the United States. Despite the increase in drug-related deaths, the overall trend for homicides in Oklahoma is on the decline.
The FBI report from 2022 revealed that there were 6.7 homicide deaths in Oklahoma per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 6.3 per 100,000. However, within the metro area, the Oklahoma City Police Department has seen a decrease in homicide numbers, attributed to advancements in technology and improvements in medical care.
While the overall violent crime rates in Oklahoma have dropped, there are still unsolved cases from the 72 homicides in the metro area last year. Knight emphasized the difficulty in preventing these types of crimes, emphasizing the efforts made by law enforcement to mitigate, stop, and prevent them. According to the FBI report, there has been a decrease in overall violent crime rates in Oklahoma, demonstrating progress in addressing crime in the region.
In conclusion, the latest data shows a decline in homicides in Oklahoma City for 2023, with a significant drop in the overall violent crime rates in the state. The inclusion of fentanyl-related deaths in the 2023 numbers indicates a shift in the way these fatalities are being accounted for, shedding light on the evolving nature of crime in the region.