Homicide and assault

In the US in 2010, there were 16,259 homicides, accounting for 9% of all injury deaths. There were approximately 2.3 million additional people who suffered non-fatal injuries from violence-related incidents.
...(Center for Disease Control, Injury Data Tables, 2011 & Center for Disease Control, Youth Violence Report, 2012)

In comparison to the US, Washington has a lower rate of homicides – 5.3 per 100,000 in the US in 2010 vs. 2.6 per 100,000 in Washington in 2010. This represents the lowest crime rate since 2000 however, firearm-related homicides still account for 63% of all homicides in Washington, revealing an important prevention opportunity. Overall, in 2010 in Washington, there were:

• 178 homicides in Washington, with the leading cause being firearms, followed by...
• 1,384 assaults, with the most common method being "struck by or against" – this accounted for 510 of the assaults.
  (Washington State Dept. of Health, Injury Data Tables, August 2012

King County represents a similar picture to Washington State. In 2010, there were 48 homicide deaths in King County – one of the lowest years in the past decade. Again, a majority of these were firearm homicides (63%); however, the low number of homicides overall represents great strides in prevention work.
...(Washington State Dept. of Health, Injury Data Tables, August 2012

Nationally, for youth age 10-24 years old, homicide is the 2nd leading cause of death; it is the leading cause of death for African Americans in this same age group. Although socioeconomic status presents as a huge factor in such disparities, other contributing factors include firearm access, gang activity, family disruption and school failure.

• From 2006 to 2010 in King County, homicide was the 3rd leading cause of injury death for youth ages 10-24 years old
• 80% of youth homicides involve firearms
  (Washington State Dept. of Health, Injury Data Tables, 2011)

Prevention resources

• CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 13, 2011
  This report presents national data from 2006-2007 on firearm homicides and suicides, giving the opportunity to compare across the 50 largest cities in the United States, including Seattle.
  
  
• LOK-IT-UP
  Washington and King County campaign to make communities safer through safe storage of firearms.
  
  
• The National Center for Injury and Violence Prevention
  Resource includes national stats and information on violence prevention, including information on child maltreatment, elder maltreatment, youth violence and intimate partner violence.
  
  
• The Prevention Institute
  The Prevention Institute serves as a central focus for primary prevention practice, promoting policies, organizational practices and collaborative efforts that improve health and quality of life.
  
  
• STRYVE, A National Youth Violence Prevention Program
  STRYVE (Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere) takes a public health approach to preventing youth violence before it starts. They provide communities with resources and tools to reduce youth violence.
  
  
• UNITY (Urban Networks to Increase Thriving Youth through Violence Prevention)
  UNITY provides tools, training and technical assistance to help cities become more effective in violence prevention.