For yet another year, Missouri leads the U.S. in Black homicide victimization rates, according to a new analysis by the Violence Policy Center.
Using 2023 data from the FBI and CDC, the report found Missouri’s Black homicide victimization rate was 54.9 per 100,000 people—more than double the national rate for Black Americans, which stood at 26.6 per 100,000.
“In 2023 alone, 400 Black Missourians were killed by homicide,” said Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. Overall, Missouri recorded 608 homicide victims last year.
The state has consistently ranked first or second in this category every year since the center began tracking the data two decades ago. Following Missouri in the top 10 are Illinois, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Sugarmann noted that all of these states, except Illinois, have preemption laws—policies that prevent cities from enacting their own gun safety regulations.
“Even if local governments want to pass laws to protect residents from gun violence, they’re blocked by state law,” Sugarmann explained. For example, a St. Louis judge recently overturned a city ordinance requiring gun owners to lock up firearms left in vehicles.
The national homicide victimization rate across all racial groups was 7.1 per 100,000, meaning the rate for Black Americans is four times higher.
Washington University sociology professor Darwin Baluran says systemic issues are driving the numbers. “Concentrated poverty, residential segregation, and lack of lawful employment all contribute to violence and higher homicide rates,” he said.
Baluran added that these socioeconomic disparities are especially severe in states like Missouri, helping to explain their persistent placement at the top of the list.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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