Differences and Similarities of Fatal and Non-Fatal Firearm Incidents

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

Firearms are used in the preponderance of all homicides in America. Characteristics and contexts of homicide incidents involving firearms tend to be well documented, however less is often known or understood about non-fatal firearm occurrences. This study utilizes police records collected from one city with high rates of firearm crimes to examine similarities and differences between fatal and non-fatal incidents, focusing on victim and suspect characteristics and contextual variation. This city has employed an offender-based focused deterrence strategy to address gun violence, therefore special attention is paid to variation between incidents where there was group member involved as either a suspect or victim.

Authors

• Lexi M. Gill, University of Missouri - Kansas City

• Andrew M. Fox, California State University, Fresno

• Kenneth Novak, University of Missouri - Kansas City