Crime in Nashville: Nearly a dozen homicides reported within 1 month
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — While a large number of homicides were reported in Nashville and Davidson County in April, violent crime still appears to be down compared to this time last year.
In total, preliminary data shows there were around 12 homicides reported between March 30 and April 27, making up nearly 40% of the homicides reported so far this year. However, the homicide rate is still down nearly 26.8% compared to April 27, 2023.
Crime in Nashville: Property crime on the rise, violent offenses decreasing
Overall, most violent offenses in the city appear to be dropping, with exception to rape. Rather, its property crime that continues to be a major issue. The 14% rise in property crime has likely been related to a substantial increase in auto thefts.
March was also the first month of 2024 where there was an increase in all types of property crime. That trend continued into April, with preliminary data showing burglary reports have jumped almost 36% over the past month.
Those statistics are derived from unofficial reports in the MNPD’s weekly crime initiative book. The weekly report prepared by the MNPD Crime Analysis Section provides preliminary data on all part one offenses, including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Nashville’s ‘Top 10 Most Wanted’ fugitives: Week of April 24, 2024
Arson offenses in Davidson County are not included in public MNPD Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) because those offenses are investigated by the Nashville Fire Department.
Although the data is reviewed by the MNPD for accuracy and completeness, it does not reflect official counts. Below is a full breakdown of the crimes that have been reported in Nashville and Davidson County during the first four months of 2024.
Violent crime
Violent crime is composed of four offenses: homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. According to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crimes are those offenses which involve force or threat of force.
According to unofficial reports, the rate of violent crime in Nashville and Davidson County is slightly lower than it was this time last year. The data reflects a 5.4% decrease, with a total of 2,698 violent crimes reported by April 27, 2023, and only 2,553 reported by April 27, 2024.
The largest drop in violent crime so far this year appears to be in the MNPD’s North Precinct, where preliminary reports reflect a 21.3% decrease. However, there are some police precincts that have seen an increase in violent crime.
Violent crime has gone up in the West, South, Central and Hermitage Precincts. Still, it’s a less than 10% increase in each area.
Homicide
Unofficial reports show the homicide rate in Nashville and Davidson County has dropped about 26.8% compared to the start of last year, with 41 homicides reported by April 27, 2023, and 30 reported about four months into 2024.
While the homicide rate continues to be lower than last year, a large portion of homicides have been reported within the last month. Preliminary reports show there were only 18 homicides in Nashville by March 30, 2024, meaning 12, or nearly 40% of this year’s total, occurred in April.
The city ended 2023 with a little over 100 homicides, continuing a trend that started in 2020. Since then, there have been over 100 homicides reported every year. MNPD’s crime stats show that 2017 was the first time Nashville had seen over 100 homicides in almost two decades.
Man found shot to death in South Nashville park, police say
The Midtown Hills Precinct saw the largest rise in homicide last year, with a 100% increase compared to 2022. However, that rise can be attributed to a deadly mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27 that resulted in the deaths of six people.
Preliminary reports show there have only been two homicides reported in the Midtown Hills Precinct so far this year. The majority of homicides reported in the first part of 2024 have been in the North, East, Hermitage and South Precincts.
Nearly 60% of homicide victims have been between the ages of 18 and 34. Unofficial reports show one victim has been 65 years or older and one has been between 0 and 12 years old. Only one of the homicides reported so far this year was recorded as domestic-related.
Rape
Unofficial data shows the number of rapes reported in Nashville and Davidson County has increased compared to the start of last year, with 153 reports made by April 27, 2023, and 192 reports made by April 27, 2024.
The largest increase has been in the police department’s Central Precinct, where reports of rape have risen by 260% compared to this time last year. However, the majority of reports are still coming from the North, Hermitage and South Precincts.
Altogether, preliminary data shows there have been 105 reports made in those three areas, with those numbers representing a 70.6% increase in the North Precinct.
Aggravated assault
There have been 2,123 incidences of aggravated assault reported in Nashville and Davidson County so far this year — an about 7.2% decrease from the 1,970 aggravated assaults reported by April 27, 2023, according to unofficial reports.
The FBI’s UCR Program defines aggravated assault as an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. The majority of aggravated assaults have been reported in the MNPD’s South Precinct.
Nearly every police precinct has seen a decrease in aggravated assaults, except for the Central Precinct where numbers have stayed about the same as last year, and the West and South Precincts, where there have been slight rises in reports.
Robbery
The total number of robberies reported in Nashville and Davidson County has dropped about 5.2% compared to this time last year, according to preliminary reports. Overall, there have been 361 reports made, which is 20 less than the number of robberies reported by April 27, 2023.
The FBI’s UCR Program defines robbery as the taking or attempting to take anything of value from a person by force or threat of force, and by putting the victim in fear.
‘Enough is enough’: Chief Drake wants better justice system after repeat offenders re-arrested
The largest drop in robberies appears to be in the Madison Precinct, where unofficial reports indicate a 27.8% decrease. County-wide, commercial robberies have dropped about 44% compared to this time last year, while street robberies have slightly increased at 0.6%.
The only areas that have seen an increase in in robbery are the MNPD’s Hermitage, North and West Precincts. Robberies have increased by about 10% in the North Precinct; 37% in the Hermitage Precinct; and 9.1% in the West Precinct.
Property crime
Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny, auto theft and arson. According to the UCR Program, the object of theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims.
Unofficial reports show property crime in Nashville and Davidson County has increased compared to this time last year. In total, 9,792 incidents have been reported compared to 8,589 incidents reported by April 27, 2023 — a rise likely driven by an increase in auto theft.
The majority of property offenses have been reported in the police department’s South Precinct, where property crime has risen by about 31.1%. A total of 2,162 property offenses have been reported in the area compared to 1,649 by April 27, 2023.
The only police precinct that has seen a decrease in property crime is the Midtown Hills Precinct, where preliminary data shows property crime is down about 14.1% compared to last year.
Burglary
Burglary involves the unlawful entry of a home or business. Preliminary reports show there has been an about 13.1% increase in reports of burglary compared to this time last year.
The 967 burglaries reported so far this year is also a 36% jump from last month when there were only 710 reported. Overall, the largest increase in reports has been in the MNPD’s North Precinct, where data shows a 67.5% increase in burglary.
Couple wanted for assaulting another couple at Midtown bar
Meanwhile, the Central Precinct has seen the sharpest decline in burglaries at about 43.3%.
While commercial burglary was down county-wide for much of 2024, unofficial data indicates it is now rising with a 5.3% increase compared to last year. Residential burglary is also up about 17.8% county-wide, with the North and South Precincts seeing the largest rises.
Larceny
Unofficial data indicates reports of larceny in Nashville and Davidson County are not far off from this time last year, with only a 6.1% increase. Examples of larceny are thefts of bicycles, motor vehicle parts and accessories, shoplifting or pocket-picking.
While there has not been much of a change county-wide, reports have increased in nearly every police precinct except the North and Midtown Hills Precincts. The Midtown Hills Precinct has seen the largest drop, with an about 20% decrease compared to this time last year.
Meanwhile, preliminary reports show the area with the largest rise in reports of larceny has been the East Precinct. In total, larceny has increased about 29.3% in the East Precinct.
Auto theft
Auto theft has continued to be one of the fastest-rising crimes in Nashville and Davidson County, according to unofficial reports. In total, 1,787 auto thefts have been reported so far this year, compared to the 1,100 thefts that were reported by April 27, 2023.
CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee
That’s a 62.5% increase compared to this time last year. However, the amount of auto thefts does appear to be leveling off somewhat as thefts were up over 120% at the start of 2024.
According to the preliminary data, two of the eight police precincts have reported an over 100% increase in auto thefts within the first four months of 2024. The West Precinct has been hit the hardest, with a 123.3% rise in thefts compared to this time last year.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
