Lansing Officials Report 12 Homicides In 2012
LANSING (AP) - Lansing officials say the city had 12 homicides last year, the most since 2008 when it had the same number.
Police say arrests have been made or charges filed in seven of those 12 homicide cases.
Lansing's homicide total doesn't include the Jan. 7, 2012 killing of a 28-year-old who was shot in an exchange of gunfire during what officials said was a drug robbery. That was ruled an act of self-defense, since he was killed by the man being robbed.
In 2011, there were seven homicides in Lansing. In 2010 there were 10, which is what the city has averaged since 2000.
Several of Michigan's largest cities saw increases in homicides 2012. Detroit had 386 criminal homicides in 2012, compared to 344 in 2011. Grand Rapids hit a preliminary toll of 18 homicides in 2012, just one more than the 17 reported in 2011, compared with nine each in 2009 and 2010. Flint reportedly tied their tally of 66 homicides for both 2012 and 2011, while 30 homicides were reported in Saginaw, up from 12 in 2011.
Local officials say crime that originates in other cities can affect Lansing.
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