MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong calls the number of homicides committed in Memphis this year "disturbing."
There are have been more people killed in the bluff city so far in 2012 than at this time last year, but city leaders think they know how to fix the problem.
According to Forbes Magazine, Memphis is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Whether you believe that or not is up to you, but the numbers, especially the homicide numbers, don't lie.
"The numbers are alarming," stated Director Armstrong on the city's homicide cases. "We've had 126 so far this year compared to 121 last year."
Of that 126, 115 have been criminal homicides. That's 19 more than Memphis police investigated at this same time last year.
Armstrong says when people kill, it's usually someone they've crossed paths with before. "Probably 90 percent of homicides people know each other, they're acquaintances," he said. "Those types of things are hard to initiate some crime plan to curtail that."
Memphis City Councilman Myron Lowery says when it comes to curtailing the number of homicides committed in Memphis, "I think we should start with young people… most of the crimes, the senseless killings are done by young people. We need to focus on young people, on their value system and to stress upon them the importance of life and leading a good life."
Lowery adds when it comes to stopping the killing, "The police can't do everything by themselves. Each citizen has their own responsibility in their home, on their block, in their community, and then it spreads throughout the city and crime will be reduced."
Armstrong and Lowery say the city will do whatever it takes to reduce the number of murders.
