Twenty people were murdered in Spokane in 2020. | Adobe Stock
Twenty people were murdered in Spokane in 2020. | Adobe Stock
During 2020, there were 20 homicides in Spokane, the Spokane Police Department reported recently, which is an increase from the six in 2019.
Spokane Police Department Sgt. Terry Preuninger said department brass doesn't know why there was such a significant increase, nor will they know for quite some time, KHQ reported in January.
Over the past eight years, Spokane has averaged 7.5 homicides a year, according to Comp Stat reports from the department. The reports date back to 2012, which was the only other year with 20 homicides reported — other years had less, like 2017 with five homicides.
While it's too early to tell if COVID-19 impacted the increased number of homicides, Preuninger said it would be a question that is being considered. But he did point out that officers with the department have noticed increased gang activity, which hasn't been reported since the 1990s.
While there isn't an answer to the increased homicides in 2020, Preuninger did say the department has solved 18 of the 20 homicides in 2020.
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