Indianapolis: Symposium on Reducing Black-on-Black Crime

According to the Indianapolis Police Department, the majority of homicides in Indianapolis are black-on-black crimes, accounting for 57, or 65 percent, of the 88 killings recorded in 2005.

The numbers are alarming to community leaders, including Williams, who is the director of the youth initiative Peace in the Streets. Williams shared his story Saturday at a "Blacks Killing Blacks" symposium area, an event that featured a panel discussion involving Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, the chief deputy of police and church leaders. The panel, along with about 100 concerned residents, explored several ways to decrease black-on-black crimes in the city.

THE NUMBERS
Homicides involving black victims killed by blacks in Indianapolis in recent years:
• 2000 -- 53 of 86 homicides.
• 2001 -- 53 of 91 homicides.
• 2002 -- 56 of 83 homicides.
• 2003 -- 60 of 81 homicides.
• 2004 -- 70 of 93 homicides.
• 2005 -- 57 of 88 homicides.  More. . . [Mark Godsey]