SOUTH BEND — Last year was one of the most violent in recent memory for South Bend, as both shootings and aggravated assaults increased compared to 2019.
South Bend Police Department data, however, also show a decrease in property crimes like larceny and burglary, as pandemic restrictions led to fewer people on streets and fewer businesses open.
Overall, South Bend police reported 133 criminally assaulted shootings in 2020; 23 of which were fatal. In 2019, 109 people were shot in criminally assaulted shootings, which do not include accidental shootings or suicides, while 2018 saw 78 shootings, 2017 saw 102 and 2016 saw 81.
2020’s 23 fatal shootings were also the most in recent years, topping the 17 fatal shootings in 2017.
“Our aggravated assaults, which obviously include shootings, significantly increased every single month, as did homicides,” said South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski at Wednesday’s Board of Public Safety meeting. “Again, this is unacceptable.”
Copyright © 2024, South Bend Tribune