Child Homicide

Age of Victimization

Of the 4,909 homicide victims under the age of eighteen from 1997 through 1999, 35.3 percent were victimized under the age of five. A large percentage of these children (13.5 percent) were victimized during the first year of life. In this age group, the victimization rate generally declines each year to a 2.2 percent victimization rate for five-year-old children. The victimization rate is lowest in the six- to twelve-year-old age range. Only 10.1 percent of homicide victims under the age of eighteen were in that age bracket, and the percentage victimized by specific age shows very little variation, ranging from 1.5 percent to 1.7 percent for the seven-year age range.

The victimization picture changes rapidly for thirteen- to seventeen-year-olds; about 54 percent of child homicide victimizations occurred in that age group. From 2.8 percent at age thirteen, the percentage victimized climbs to 23.5 percent of all child homicide victimizations at the age of seventeen.

While the data suggests three patterns of victimization, only two distinct patterns are emphasized here. The victimization patterns of infants and preschool children (first year of life through age five) can be clearly distinguished from those of adolescents (aged thirteen through seventeen). Not only are there a small number of victims in the six to twelve age group, their patterns of victimization frequently appear to reflect a transition between younger and older victims. For example, only 7.7 percent of homicide victims under six are killed by handguns; this increases to 31.2 percent for the six to twelve age group and 66.9 percent for adolescents.

Gender and Race

In the infants and preschool group, there are slightly more male than female victims (53.9 percent vs. 46.1 percent). The primary school group is almost evenly divided among males and females (49.2 percent vs. 50.8 percent). Beginning in adolescence, the male domination of this crime, both as victims and offenders, appears. Over 80 percent of the homicide victims are males.

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