NCJ Number
174594
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Death records from the California Department of Health Services were linked with the California Department of Justice's Homicide Data File for the 1990-1995 period to identify residential firearm homicides.
Abstract
The resulting 16,209 firearm homicides were categorized as residential or nonresidential, and the relationship between the victim and the shooter was assessed. Of the 16,209 firearm homicides, 3,734 (23 percent) occurred in residences. Although more males than females were victims in residential and nonresidential firearm homicides, the disparity between sexes was much less in the residential setting. Almost half of firearm homicides involving female victims were residential, whereas one in five firearm homicides involving male victims was residential. Intimate partners or family members committed 30 percent of residential firearm homicides but only 2 percent of nonresidential firearm homicides. Most residential firearm homicides resulted from non-felony events, such as arguments or family violence. Of residential firearm homicides that occurred at the victim's residence, felonies precipitated 19 percent and non-felonies precipitated 56 percent. The victim knew the shooter in 66 percent of cases. Of residential firearm homicides that occurred at the shooter's residence, felonies precipitated only 4 percent while nonfelonies precipitated 85 percent. The victim and the shooter were intimate partners or family members in 63 percent of cases and they were acquaintances in 29 percent of cases. Overall, residential firearm homicides accounted for over 600 deaths per year in California form 1990 through 1995. 10 references, 3 tables, and 2 figures