When Men Murder Women: An
Analysis of 1999 Homicide Data
Females Murdered by Males
in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents
Virginia
60 females were murdered by males
in Virginia in 1999
The homicide rate among females
murdered by males in Virginia was 1.71 per 100,000 in 1999
Ranked 14th in the United States
Age
Six female homicide victims (11 percent)
were less than 18 years old, and 7 victims (12 percent) were 65 years
of age or older. The average age was 38 years old.
Race
Out of 60 female murder victims, 23 were
black and 37 were white.
Most Common Weapons
For homicides in
which the weapon used could be identified, 64 percent of female victims
(36 out of 56) were shot and killed with guns. Of these, 56 percent
(20 victims) were killed with handguns. There were 12 females killed
with a knife or other cutting instrument, 1 female killed by a blunt
object, and 5 females killed by bodily force.
Victim/Offender
Relationship
For homicides in
which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 97 percent
of female victims (56 out of 58) were murdered by someone they knew.
Two female victims were killed by strangers. Of the victims who knew
their offenders, 61 percent (34 victims) were wives, common-law wives,
ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 34 female intimates
murdered, 71 percent (24 victims) were killed with guns; 50 percent
of these (12 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.
Circumstance
For homicides in which the circumstance
could be identified, 94 percent (47 out of 50) were not related to the
commission of any other felony. Of these, 57 percent (27 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 � 2001 Violence
Policy Center
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