Shreveport murder rate up at least 10% in 2023 with four mass shootings
Shreveport has suffered four mass shootings in 2023 and its murder rate is up at least 10% over last year, while the average murder rate in 100 American cities is down 11%, according to the latest analysis from Louisiana-based AH Datalytics.
AH Datalytics' co-founder Jeff Asher said while Shreveport's latest mass shooting during a July 4th block party that killed four and wounded seven generates a jolting example of gun violence, it's not necessarily a signal of a looming spike in murders within the city.
"Shreveport is following a national trend that saw quite a large increase in murders in 2021, but then saw a decline in comparison in 2022 and so far in 2023," said Asher, a crime analyst consultant who lives in New Orleans.
"It may not feel like it (after a mass shooting), but generally gun violence has fallen in Shreveport like in the rest of the country even though it's still unacceptably high," he said.
USA Today defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four people are hit by gunfire even if there are no fatalities.
There were 22 murders in Shreveport through April 30 compared to 20 murders at the same point in 2022. Asher said that is the latest data provide by the city.
"We're still waiting for the FBI statistics, but we use the big city sample (100 cities) to understand and follow trends," Asher said.
More: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards reacts to Shreveport mass shooting, offers State Police
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport murder rate up at least 10% in 2023 with four mass shootings
