5.1.3: Homicides

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Photo illustration of a photographer documenting a homicide scene with crime scene tape surrounding a body outline marked in white tape on the ground next to a pool of blood staining the road.
Photo Credit: CC0 Public Domain 1.0

At the most extreme end of the spectrum, murder represents the ultimate act of violence, resulting in the intentional killing of another person. Whether motivated by personal vendettas, ideological beliefs, financial gain, or other factors, murder carries profound societal implications not only on the victim, their family, and friends, but often elicits strong emotional responses from communities and law enforcement authorities alike.

While many violent crimes can escalate to murder, the underlying motivation behind the crime often dictates the number of victims involved. In cases such as gang-related or intimate partner murders, the violence tends to be more targeted and localized, typically occurring within known or isolated areas. However, in instances of random acts of murder, such as mass shootings or serial killings, the violence is more indiscriminate and unpredictable, instilling widespread fear and anxiety within communities, despite the rarity of such occurrences.

There are three primary categories of multiple murders: serial murders, murder sprees, and mass murders. Serial murder refers to when a person kills several victims in three or more separate events. Mass murder involves the killing of more than three people in a single event. A murder spree, on the other hand, entails a series of killings committed within a relatively short time frame (e.g., days or weeks), often without a clear interval between each event and in different locations. Public perceptions about the frequency of these types of murder are often inflated because these events receive a great deal of attention from news outlets and other mass media (Schildkraut, 2016). For example, consider the variety of murder documentaries on Netflix: true crime documentaries and series like The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer, and Night Stalker: Hunt for a Serial Killer. However, these high-profile cases tend to be statistically rare, and it is important to realize that serial homicide accounts for less than 1% of all murders (Bonn, 2014). It is worth noting that the U.S. has produced 3,204 serial killers over its history (Sheth, 2020).

Homicides tend to be among the most well-reported types of crime (Nivette, 2011). After all, at least one person will usually notice and care if someone vanishes. Because homicides are usually reported, they are less likely than other types of crime to be susceptible to the dark figure of crime (Tonry, 2004). The dark figure of crime refers to the number of crimes that are uncounted because nobody notices or reports them. For example, a stroll through downtown Vancouver at any time of the day will reveal a great deal of unreported drug crime—there are obviously many cases of drug possession and trafficking that go unnoticed and unreported because both participants in the crime are willing parties. In other words, a “criminal” act is not necessarily a “deviant” act if it is typical, “normal” behavior among the local population.

Homicide is usually associated with murder in everyday conversation and in television and movies. However, it is important to remember that homicide is an umbrella term that refers to one human killing another, while murder is a specific type of intentional homicide. The legal system identifies several levels of murder that are sorted according to the offender’s culpability and intention to do harm. First degree murder is planned and deliberate, whereas second degree murder may be intentional, but it lacks the element of pre-planning and may occur in the heat of the moment. Manslaughter is non-intentional homicide resulting from intoxication, recklessness, or negligence (e.g., two people in a bar get in a fight and one kills the other by accident).

Interpreting murder rates accurately is a complex task that extends beyond merely counting the total number of murders in a specific area. The motivations and circumstances surrounding different types of multiple murder crimes vary significantly, profoundly affecting data interpretation. Therefore, examining the underlying causes of murders is equally essential for a comprehensive understanding of murder rates. For example, a region with high murder rates may not necessarily imply a high risk of being murdered. The interpretation and implications of the data vary substantially depending on whether the murders were the result of multiple random incidents at different times or the outcome of a family murder suicide. Moreover, the motives and behaviors of a serial murderer with four victims differ significantly from those of a father who tragically takes the lives of four of his own family members. Despite the same number of victims in both scenarios, the differences in motive, behavior, and timing greatly alter the interpretation of the data and impact on policy.

To gain an accurate understanding of murder rates and devise effective strategies and policies, it’s essential to thoroughly examine a variety of critical variables. By grasping these nuances, policymakers and stakeholders can craft tailored policies and strategies aimed at tackling the underlying causes of homicide-related violent crimes. Furthermore, they can implement interventions and preventive measures to effectively counter the various factors contributing to different types of multiple murders.