Quarrels, revenge cited most in 37 slayings last year, four of which remain unsolved.
By Isadora Vail
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 10:04 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011
Published: 9:53 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011
A spike in domestic-violence killings in 2010 helped push Austin to its highest number of homicides in 13 years, police said.
Of the 37 slayings last year, 11 were committed by a family member, roommate, significant other or ex-spouse, according to police statistics. Only one such homicide occurred in 2009, when there were 22 slayings.
The last time there were more killings in Austin was 1997, when there were 40.
The most common motive for homicides in 2010 was random quarrels or revenge-motivated killings, police said. Police Cmdr. Julie O'Brien said such homicides include bar fights and drug deals.
Perhaps the most notable random killing in Austin last year was when Vernon Hunter
was killed when Joseph Stack III flew his plane into the Internal Revenue Service office building in Northwest Austin where Hunter worked.
In 2010, the race of the victims were almost evenly split among Hispanic, white and black, a drastic difference from 2009, when half of the victims were Hispanic.
Homicide victims' ages ranged from 2, for Carlos De La Rosa, to 68, for Hunter. Police say Carlos was killed in November when his uncle beat the boy, who was upset at not being allowed to play outside.
In 2009, no one 10 or younger was killed in Austin.
The clearance rate of Austin's homicides is higher than the national average, and detectives report having solved 33 of the 37 slayings.
Police consider a case solved if the suspect was arrested or charged, or if the case was turned over to the courts for prosecution.
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