The Tulsa Homicide Unit reports a total of 58 homicides for 2015 compared to 54 in 2014.
The majority of the homicides resulted from an altercation. There were a total of 11 altercations last year compared to two in 2014.
There were seven dispute-related homicides in 2015 and 13 in 2014.
Sergeant Dave Walker, who oversees the homicide unit, described an altercation as an argument between two or more people who do not know each other. He describes a dispute as an argument between two or more people who have some type of relation.
2015 HOMICIDES IN TULSA
In addition to altercations, gang-related homicides also saw a spike in 2015. There were five gang-related murders in 2015 compared to one in 2014.
These types of crimes are the most difficult to solve, according to Sgt. Dave Walker, because witnesses rarely come forward.
Drug-related homicides also increased from three in 2014 to five last year.
Three children were murdered in 2015; two were murdered in 2014.
Domestic-related homicides decreased last year with a total of nine compared to 12 in 2014.
The number of murders resulting from robberies were steady both years at six.
There was one homicide that resulted from an officer-involved shooting last year compared to six in 2014.
There were two murders classified as "other" and nine murders were "unknown" in 2015.
Forty-seven of the 58 homicide investigations last year have been closed, while detectives still search for the suspects in 11 of the murders.
In 2014, 49 of the 54 murders were closed, while five remained open.
2014 HOMICIDES IN TULSA
According to Sgt. Walker, the closure rate this year is lower than last year's due to the gang-related homicides.
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