According to CDC data, homicides declined slightly across the nation in 2022. However, homicides in Virginia were still surging, and they appear to be surging more in 2023.
Previously, Roanoke had three different years with 16 homicides. Then they had 19 in 2022. They have already experienced 20 in 2023!
As deadly BLM /Antifa riots ravaged America, the Roanoke city council embraced the radical agenda of the rioters. They voted to replace the city’s small Robert E. Lee monument with a plague for a Black cancer patient.
1987: 16 (96k, 16.7 per 100k)
2005: 16 (93k, 17.2 per 100k)
2018: 12 (99k, 12.1 per 100k)
2019: 13 (99k, 13.1 per 100k)
2020: 15 (100k, 15.0 per 100k)
2021: 16 (99k, 16.2 per 100k)
2022: 19 (99k, 19.2 per 100k) – new record for highest homicide rate since at least 1985
2023: Twenty so far…
The overwhelming most common homicide dynamic in Roanoke is Black on Black. However, there was at least one Black on White homicide in 2022 and at least one Black on White homicide in 2021. There are also some unsolved murders that may by Black on White.
Known Roanoke homicide suspects who were Black:
2018: 100.0%
2019: 80.0%
2020: 81.8%
2021: 87.5%
Roanoke is listed as 29.3% Black by the census.
Virginia Homicides:
2017: 470 (8,471k, 5.5 per 100k)
2018: 417 (8,511k, 4.9 per 100k)
2019: 426 (8,557k, 5.0 per 100k)
2020: 524 (8,591k, 6.1 per 100k) – Highest rate since 1998
2021: 562 (8,642k, 6.5 per 100k)
2022: 621 (8684k, 7.2 per 100k) – Highest rate since 1997
We are anticipating a statewide increase for 2023.
