The increase in crime and illegal gun violence in Colorado is becoming a serious concern for residents and law enforcement officials.
According to the latest FBI data, homicides in Colorado have tripled in the last decade, occurring roughly twice a week and rising from 31 in 2014 to a staggering 90 in 2022. This alarming trend has left many wondering why violent crime has spiked so quickly in Denver, with firearms playing a significant role in turning these incidents fatal.
The evidence is undeniable – with the increase in crime, there has been an understandable boom in gun sales in Colorado.
Approved background checks for gun purchases jumped 45% from 2019 to 2020, surpassing the national average. Though sales have declined since 2020, 2021 and 2022 are still among the highest years for gun sales in state history, as reported by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
In 2012, illegal guns were used in 56% of homicides in Denver. By 2022, that number had risen to a staggering 79%.
Even aggravated assaults saw a dramatic increase, with illegal firearms being used in 25% of serious assaults in 2012 and 44% in 2022. These disturbing statistics are a clear indication of the role of guns in turning conflicts into deadly situations.
Just last month, a Halloween costume party in Montbello turned into a scene of horror when six people were shot and three were killed. And earlier this month, seven people were shot, and two were killed, in Park Hill, outside a motorcycle club.
Gun violence in Denver was further highlighted in June when a man opened fire on a police officer, who was saved by his bulletproof vest.
This same day, a second officer involved shooting occurred, with the officer returning fire and wounding the suspect. Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas stated that he had never seen such violence towards officers in a single day.
While Denver may have fewer murders than other cities, such as Baltimore and Detroit, the 90 homicides in Denver last year are still a cause for concern, particularly as they reflect a sharp increase of 131% since 2012.
A review of Denver Police Department data shows that two neighborhoods, Five Points and Montbello, have a significantly higher rate of violent crime. Other areas plagued by violence include downtown Capitol Hill, Green Valley Ranch, and Westwood.
The trend of violent crime is not evenly spread across the city, with most incidents occurring after nightfall and peaking in the 1 a.m. hour. It is also alarming to note that, according to FBI data, 38% of homicide victims in Denver in the last decade were Black, despite the Black population only making up 9% of the city. And this year, most non-fatal shooting victims have also been Black, as reported by DPD.
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Of U.S. cities with a population of over half a million, Denver's overall violent crime rate has seen an increase of over 90% between 2012 and 2022, according to the FBI.
This rise in crime cannot be explained away by different or changing definitions of aggravated assault, as the FBI cautions against comparing crime in different cities. And while Mayor Mike Johnston's office has acknowledged the issue of gun violence and claims to be working closely with DPD to reduce incidents, the numbers tell a different story.
Though there has been progress this year, with a 15% decline in aggravated assaults where a gun was fired, it is still uncertain if violence is substantially falling in the city.
While property crimes have seen a decline, it is not enough to make a significant impact in reducing violence. The proliferation of illegal guns in Colorado has made bending the curve on deadly violence an even harder task. The number of crime guns recovered in Denver has doubled since 2014, with the average time for legally purchased guns to be used in a crime decreasing significantly.