Is the geography of Pittsburgh's murders changing? (Allentown, Penn Hills: 2015, crime rate)

[eschaton]

Now that we have five months of 2016 behind us, I decided to look at the Post Gazette's murder map, and see how it stacked up. Running tally so far

North Side:
Observatory Hill - 2
Brighton Heights - 1
Fineview - 1
Marshall-Shadeland - 1
Perry Hilltop - 1

West End:
Elliott - 2
Windgap - 2
Sheraden - 1

South Pittsburgh:
Beltzhoover - 2
Mount Washington - 1

East End:
Homewood - 3
Bloomfield - 1
Oakland - 1

North Suburbs:
Etna - 2
Bellvue - 1
Hampton Township - 1

South Suburbs:
Homestead - 2
Brentwood - 1
Jefferson Hills - 1
West Mifflin - 1

East Suburbs:
Wilkinsburg - 7
Penn Hills - 3
North Braddock - 1
McKeesport - 1

So far, out of the 40 homicides, 21 have been in the suburbs, and 19 have been in the city. More interesting to me though is even the geography within the city. There have been no murders in the lower North Side, despite a number occurring in the outer North Side. Discounting Homewood, there have only been two murders in the East End. The Bloomfield one was an elderly couple's murder-suicide, and so atypical. Only the South Oakland one seemed gang-related. So far, no murders at all in Garfield, East Liberty, or Larimer. Most notably, given the past history of violence there have been no murders whatsoever in the Hill District.

Obviously, the year is still young. Historically speaking, July and August have tended to be the worst months for fatal violence in Pittsburgh, so these trends could change. But it really is looking like a lot of the inner city is getting safer, even as the total number of murders in Allegheny County isn't dropping overall.

[UKyank]

I think I heard a guy just got killed this morning by allegheny general (north side).

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by UKyank

I think I heard a guy just got killed this morning by allegheny general (north side).

Apparently critically injured. I suppose if he dies it the lower North Side's no-murder streak will be at an end. I do wonder how many people have been critically injured in the rest of the city however.

[Goinback2011]

Numbers of shootings would be a better measure. Murders are committed by shooters with accurate aim.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

Numbers of shootings would be a better measure. Murders are committed by shooters with accurate aim.

I know in 2015 the number of homicides fell by 18% in the city, while the number of nonfatal shootings rose by 4%. So either Pittsburgh residents are getting to be worse shots, or our hospitals are getting better at patching people together.

[erieguy]

3 people shot at Memorial Day pool party in Penn Hills | Local News - Home

Surprised this wasn't addressed. I guess the Chicago Memorial Day shootings drowned it out.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by erieguy

3 people shot at Memorial Day pool party in Penn Hills | Local News - Home

Surprised this wasn't addressed. I guess the Chicago Memorial Day shootings drowned it out.

That map sometimes lags by a couple days.

[bradjl2009]

Geeze I know Penn Hills is big, but wow some parts of it have really gone downhill over the past 15 years or so I'd say. Also, does anyone know how this compares to where we were last year and the year before at this time?

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Also, does anyone know how this compares to where we were last year and the year before at this time?

This report says that in 2015 there were 20 homicides in the City of Pittsburgh overall in the first six months of 2015. Since we're at 19 five months in, we're likely going to be a bit higher than that in 2016. We probably won't reach the recent highs from 2014 however.

[SteelCityRising]

Excellent analysis, as always, Eschaton! Thanks for compiling this!

I'm quite surprised the Hill District hasn't had a single homicide (yet) this year. Living in adjacent Polish Hill we never worry because violent crime has never spilled over Bigelow Boulevard; however, if the neighborhood's violent crime rate is indeed improving, then we may actually consider buying our first home in the Middle Hill District in a few years instead of Troy Hill, East Allegheny, Spring Garden, Spring Hill, Fineview, Elliott, Allentown, or Arlington.