The number of murders in the nation’s capital surpassed COVID-19-related fatalities in July — almost by a 3-to-1 ratio, according to new data released by local officials.
Statistics show 21 homicides in Washington, DC last month compared to eight deaths from Coronavirus.
“I’m mad as hell about this and I hope y’all are too,” a visibly frustrated Washington D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee said on July 23 in response to a shooting the day before. “How are we holding people accountable? What does that accountability look like and is it OK with you?”
“The statistic comes as Washington, D.C., recorded 100 homicides by July 10 – the earliest the city has hit that number since 2003. The D.C. Police Union claimed the average date over the past 10 years when the city usually hits 100 homicides is Oct. 25,” reports Fox News.
“We’ve put a lot of resources and time into the COVID pandemic,” Trayon White, the councilman of Ward 8, said after the mid-July murder of a six-year-old girl. “We’re in a pandemic right now when it comes to crime in this community and we got to start acting [on] it.”
DC brings back indoor mask mandate starting Saturday https://t.co/BUmpdxniZd pic.twitter.com/pztMVzHI9F
— The Hill (@thehill) July 29, 2021
The grim stats come just hours after DC Mayor Muriel Bowser instituted a new mask mandate in indoor public places.
“We will continue to do what is necessary to keep D.C. safe,” said Bowser.
“People over the age of 2 must wear a mask indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. I know D.C. residents have been very closely following public health guidelines, and they will embrace this,” added the Mayor.
Read the full report at Fox News.
