Spike in City of Sarasota shootings result in 3 dead, 11 injured so far in 2024
Police in the city of Sarasota are puzzled by the increase in deadly gun violence recently, including a handful of homicides. While the incident numbers are relatively small, the uptick in homicide numbers from all of last year, when law enforcement officials reported no murders.
Police officials are not certain why the recent uptick in violent activity is happening, but recent data from the Sarasota Police Department shows three homicides in the first half of 2024.
Between January 1 and July 9, there have been 14 reported cases of gunshot victims, three of which have been classified as homicides by law enforcement. An additional 22 cases of evidence of shots fired have been recorded by the SPD so far this year.
In comparison, six cases of gunshot victims and zero homicides were reported in the first half of 2023.
In February, the Sarasota police presented city officials with the local statistics as part of a crime prevention presentation at City Hall. According to the 2023 data report, violent crime in Sarasota had decreased by 16% and SPD officials stated that for the first time since 1967, the city did not experience a single homicide.
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Proactive policing efforts in the community, officials claimed, had resulted in a lower rate of violent crimes such as aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, rape and robbery. SPD explained that those crimes had dropped significantly in 2023, along with the national crime average, during its February presentation.
However, a string of recent violence around the city underscores that criminal activity can be cyclical, police say.
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"Comparing crime statistics over different periods can be complex due to various factors that can influence crime rates. While our report earlier this year highlighted a period of lower crime rates in 2023, it’s important to recognize that fluctuations can occur," said Sarasota PD spokeswoman, Cynthia McLaughlin.
As those cases remain under active investigation, police officials say the goal is to keep community members informed and safe.
"Our focus remains on community safety and addressing any instances of violence swiftly and effectively... We are working diligently to address these recent incidents."
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Shooting homicides soar in Sarasota, police have no easy answer
