Overnight Jefferson City shootings add to recent rise in violent crime

Jefferson City police were called to two different scenes Monday night and early Tuesday morning for, they say, two separate shootings. A homicide in the 1900 block of Stadium Boulevard, and domestic dispute turned shooting in the 500 block of E Elm Street.

The incidents add to a recent rise in the number of homicides and assaults with a gun in the capital city.

According to data collected by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the number of homicides in Jefferson City jumped a few years ago.

There were 2 homicides in Jefferson City in 2012, none in 2013, one in 2014 and two in 2015.

In 2016, that number jumped to six, and that was followed by four homicides in 2017. Monday’s homicide was the fifth so far in 2018.

The number of assaults with a gun in Jefferson City fluctuated more within the same time period.

From 2012 to 2014, there were between 18 and 21 assaults with a gun. In 2015 and 2016, there were over 30. The number dropped to 17 in 2017, but has jumped back up since the start of the year.

Through October, there were 33 assaults with a gun in 2018, tying the number in 2016. Adding the recent incidents to the 2018 total makes this year one of the deadliest since 2012.

In short, there have been more assaults with a gun in 2018 than in any other year since 2012.

For more information on the overnight shootings, click here.