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When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2000 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Arizona

58 females were murdered by males in Arizona in 2000

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Arizona was 2.26 per 100,000 in 2000

Ranked 2nd in the United States

Age

Two female homicide victims (4 percent) were less than 18 years old and 12 victims (21 percent) were 65 years of age or older. The average age was 46 years old.


Race

Out of 58 female murder victims, 1 was American Indian, 3 were Asian, 5 were black, 12 were Hispanic, and 37 were white.


Most Common Weapons

For homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 53 percent of female victims (31 out of 58) were shot and killed with guns. Of these, 97 percent (30 victims) were killed with handguns. There were 10 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, 8 females killed by a blunt object, and 7 females killed by bodily force.


Victim/Offender Relationship

For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 93 percent of female victims (53 out of 57) were murdered by someone they knew. Four female victims were killed by strangers. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 62 percent (33 victims) were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 33 female intimates murdered, 61 percent (20 victims) were killed with guns; 95 percent of these (19 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.


Circumstance

For homicides in which the circumstances could be identified, 91 percent (51 out of 56) were not related to the commission of any other felony. Of these, 51 percent (26 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