When Men Murder Women: An
Analysis of 2000 Homicide Data
Females Murdered by Males
in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents
United States
1,805 females were murdered by
males in the United States in 2000
The homicide rate among females
murdered by males in the United States was 1.34 per 100,000 in 2000
Age
There were 154 female homicide victims
(9 percent) who were less than 18 years old and 157 victims (9 percent)
who were 65 years of age or older. The average age was 37 years old.
Race
Out of 1,791 female murder victims, 16
were American Indian, 47 were Asian, 608 were black, and 1,120 were
white.
Most Common Weapons
For homicides in which the weapon used
could be identified, 52 percent of female homicide victims (879 out
of 1,692) were shot and killed with guns. Of these, 76 percent (665
victims) were killed with handguns. There were 327 females killed with
knives or other cutting instruments, 109 females killed by a blunt object,
and 264 females killed by bodily force.
Victim/Offender
Relationship
For homicides in
which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 92 percent
of female victims (1,551 out of 1,693) were murdered by someone they
knew. There were 142 female victims killed by strangers. Of the victims
who knew their offenders, 62 percent (963 victims) were wives, common-law
wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 963 female
intimates murdered, 58 percent (557 victims) were killed with guns;
74 percent of these (410 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.
Circumstance
For homicides in
which the circumstances could be identified, 88 percent (1,313 out of
1,491) were not related to the commission of any other felony. Of these,
63 percent (829 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and
offender.
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The Violence Policy Center is
a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research
on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies
and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America,
conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease
firearm-related death and injury.
All contents � 2002 Violence
Policy Center
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