A
cluster of murders in York County over the weekend prompted me to look
more closely at where homicides are occurring in the county. The map we're using to keep a record of county homicides shows that of the eight* so far this year, four have occurred in York City and four elsewhere -- two in York Township and one each in Dallastown and Springettsbury Township. (*UPDATE, Oct. 1: Following Kenneth Ramos' murder on Sept. 26, it's now nine murders, five in the city and four elsewhere).
Last year, 18 murders, 12 occurred in the city, two in Spring Garden Township and one each in Dover Township, Lower Windsor Township, Shrewsbury Township and York Township.
In 2007, 10 of 12 murders occurred in the city, one in West Manheim Township and one in Springettsbury.
In and of themselves the numbers don't necessarily indicate a trend. But clearly, so far in 2009, the geography of York County homicides is different than in either of the previous two years. Why is that? There likely won't be a definitive reason. But thinking about that question could lead to a deeper examination of whether there are any common threads to where and/or why people are killing each other in our community.
What thoughts do you have?
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