Their bodies were found in streets, parking lots and alleys. At least seven died in cars. Nearly all died from gunshots.
In Allen County, 2016 will be memorable for the wrong reason. A record 48 homicides were committed in 41 separate incidents. In addition, a determination on the deaths of two additional women has yet to be made. The previous homicide record was 45 in 2013.
Arrests have been made in less than a fourth of the incidents.
“It’s been pretty devastating,” said Stacey, mother to Codi Alan McCann, No. 47, and a victim of what she believes was an attempted armed robbery, though police are still investigating. “He had such a big heart. He was such a great kid.”
Stacey asked that her last name – which is different from her son’s – not be used for fear of reprisals. McCann, 22, was found shot Dec. 6 in an alley in the 2200 block of California Avenue. One of two men who arrived on their own at a hospital also had been shot. Stacey said her son was armed and probably shot his assailant. No arrest has been made.
To fight the violence, police plan more community outreach – including social media – and will increase the number of officers, currently totaling about 440, by about 6 percent this year. That will bring the force to full staffing.
Mayor Tom Henry points to drugs, gangs and guns as the root of the violence.
“But that’s been a concern for quite awhile, and it’s going to continue until we as a society get our head around it and say what can we do comprehensively,” he said.