When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

North Carolina

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in North Carolina was 2.66 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 5th highest in the United States

Age

Nine female homicide victims (nine percent) were less than 18 years old, and five victims (five percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Fifty-seven female murder victims were black and 43 were white.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (82 cases), nearly two thirds of all female homicide victims (53 victims or 65 percent) were shot and killed with guns. More than seven out of 10 of these gun victims (38 victims or 72 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 13 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, and eight females killed by bodily force. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

In cases in which the relationship between the victim and the offender could be identified (93 cases), more than nine out of 10 victims (89 victims or 96 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only four female victims (four percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, nearly two thirds (55 victims or 62 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 55 female intimates murdered, six out of 10 (33 victims or 60 percent) were killed with guns; 67 percent of these gun victims (22 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (78 cases), 86 percent (67 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 45 percent (30 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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