SEATTLE — Seattle has officially broken its previous homicide record in recent history.
There have been 70 homicides so far in 2023. The previous record, based on Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs records dating back to 1979, was set in 1994, with 69 homicides.
The 70th homicide victim died this month from injuries related to a stabbing in late June. Officers from the Seattle Police Department's West Precinct responded to reports of an assault at around 11:30 a.m. on June 26 where they found a victim with significant injuries. Officers located the suspect a block away from the crime scene, who then tried to assault an officer as they were getting taken into custody.
The suspect was charged with second-degree assault in June. The charges had not been amended as of Wednesday.
Homicides rose sharply in Seattle between 2019 and 2020 and have remained elevated compared to the 2010s and early 2000s:
- 2019: 28 homicides
- 2020: 52 homicides
- 2021: 42 homicides
- 2022: 52 homicides
The trend mirrors impacts seen across the state of Washington. According to the annual report compiled by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, there were 394 murders reported in Washington state in 2022, setting a new all-time record. The 394 murders eclipsed Washington's previous record of 325, which was set in 2021. The crime report found that murders increased by nearly 17% in one year.
The previous record for the state was set in 1994, with 297 murders. Although new records have been set for both the state and the city of Seattle, the murder rate for 1994 would have been higher, adjusted for population.