Data shows that homicides were up 35% in DC last year
Department of Justice officials are planning to commit more resources to combat gun crimes in D.C., as local police have struggled to deal with an uptick in violence, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The DOJ, in an effort led by the FBI, will enable more federal prosecutors and agents to investigate such crimes, with a focus on carjacking, which has doubled in the number of cases in the city in the past year, according to the Journal, and shootings.
Data shows that while in many major cities like Philadelphia and Houston, homicide rates were significantly down in 2023 compared to 2022, D.C., has seen a spike of 35% in the last year.
“We saw an encouraging decline in violent crime in many parts of the country, but there is much more work to do, including here in the District of Columbia,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.