The 5 Most Dangerous Cities in America
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Although the coronavirus pandemic has lowered the rates of certain crimes across the country, some cities are still seeing spikes of theft or violent crime. Baltimore–which has long been considered one of the most dangerous cities in the United States–just announced that homicides are up.
Dr. Tyrone Powers, a former FBI agent, told the local Fox News affiliate “That is a clear indication that you’re dealing with a more deadly and dangerous criminal and that they’re not missing as much as before”
The U.S. violent crime rate is measured by incidents per 100,000 people. The average rate of violent crime for the entire country is about 370 incidents per 100,000 people. The most violent city in America has a violent crime rate of over 2000. Read on to discover which cities are the deadliest.
Although it is 5th in terms of overall violent crime rate, St. Louis is the current murder capital of the United States. 61 murders per 100,000 people is far, far above the national average. They may not have had the most violent deaths, but per capita you’re more likely to get killed here than anywhere else.
As we reported, Baltimore’s violent crime–and specifically homicide–rate is on the rise despite stay-at-home orders. Violence in the city is nothing new, however. The most recent spike came after the death of Freddie Gray in 2015, but it peaked last year with 348 recorded homicides. In fact, the city ranks 4th overall in violent crime and 2nd in murder for the whole country.
On the whole, Birmingham is a prosperous city. Unlike many other cities facing rising crime rates, Birmingham isn’t suffering widespread economic collapse from failed manufacturing industries. Yet the city has the third-highest murder rate in the country. Violent crime is over double the national average, with aggravated assaults topping the list of offenses.
Parts of Memphis are relatively safe for tourists, but the city at large is plagued with violent crime. Gun homicide has skyrocketed here, contributing to the 1,943 incidents of crime per 100,000 people. As with other cities on this list, unemployment and poverty play a major factor in the crime rate.
Detroit remains the most dangerous city in America thanks to its staggering crime rates. A combination of extreme poverty, unemployment, and a shrinking population means that anyone who can leave Detroit likely already has done so. The remaining 700,000 residents face crime rates that are well above the national average. In Detroit, violent crime is 442% higher than the national average at 2,007 incidents per 100,000 people.