Killed in the Act

Abstract

By disaggregating homicide into group-specific measures, insight may be gained into the many forms of lethal violence. In this article, the authors provide a descriptive analysis of a specific type of homicide that they refer to as “crime-precipitated homicide.” They argue that this categorization is distinct from both felony homicide and victim-precipitated homicide. Crime-precipitated homicides are those in which the victim was killed while participating in illegal behavior including predatory crimes, vice crimes, or narcotics dealing. Using the Homicides in Chicago, 1965-1995 data set, the authors describe the characteristics of crime-precipitated homicide offenders and victims including age, race, gender, and criminal histories. They also report on characteristics of the homicide event including where the homicides occur, when they occur, the type of weapon used, and the relationship between offenders and victims. Results suggest that crime-precipitated homicide is a distinct type that warrants further study.