Police chief says fewer homicide victims are younger than 25

For whatever reasons, murder victims this year are trending older.

Police Chief Darryl Forté discussed the matter in his Monday blog.

There have been 66 homicide victims this year, compared to 61 at this time last year, but only a fourth of the victims have been younger than 25.

This is a big change the norm. Last year, 41 percent of victims were under 25. It was 33 percent in 2011 and 48 percent in 2012.

But this year the largest percentage of victims, 35 percent, were people ages 25 to 34.

Forté said that could be hopeful.

“My hope is the younger generation is beginning to turn the corner,” the chief said, “that they’re valuing life more and staying away from high-risk lifestyles that lead to violence.”

He also hopes they are learning to manage their anger, he said, “Of the known motives for homicide this year and every year, arguments are No. 1.”

He asks the community to continue build up youth, direct them to better paths and encourage them to solve problems without guns.

“We’re doing everything we can to reduce violence but police can’t instill the value of human life in children,” he said.