Despite ongoing violence, homicide numbers haven't changed much



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee has seen nearly a half-dozen shootings since last Friday -- seven of them fatal, prompting city leaders to call on the state for help in solving Milwaukee's violence problem. But is the violence in the city getting worse, or does it just seem that way?

A report release by the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission says that the numbers, while unsettling, haven't changed much.

Back in 2005, the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission began tracking murders in real time, in order to find out what was causing them and who was dying.

Eight years later, homicides are actually down in Milwaukee, and fewer people are being shot.

However, the numbers are still staggering and unsettling.

In 2013, 52 people have been killed, according to the Milwaukee Police Department -- and that's with four months left to go in the year.

Last year, 91 people were killed, and 508 were shot but survived -- the highest number since 2006.

Just like in year's past, when August rears its ugly head, more violence is typical -- especially in neighborhood s like Garden Homes and Riverwest.

The hard truth is, if you're a black man living in certain Milwaukee zipcodes, statistically speaking, you're a target.

In 2012, 93% of murder victims in Milwaukee were men. 80% were black, and 89% had a criminal record. The people who are dying are young, most of them between 18 and 25 years old.

Police say handguns kill them, with fights, drugs and robberies behind the pull of the trigger. Police say in most cases, the suspect isn't a stranger.