LOS ANGELES -- La Opinión reported last month that 22 killings in 13 days brought a surprising end to Los Angeles' low crime trend of recent years. In a follow-up story Monday, the Spanish-language daily reports that the majority of those killed were black and Latino youth. In Los Angeles County, 32 percent of murder victims were African American, 11 percent were white, and only 3 percent were Asian. Latinos in Los Angeles County are five times more likely to be victims than whites, and nearly twice as likely as African Americans, La Opinión reports.

Experts say the high rate of murders of black and Latino youth may be linked to access to weapons and gang affiliation. They also cite poverty and social conditions, as well as lack of parental supervision, as factors that may contribute to the violence.

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=558330f8e3660a62fc93f68afaf357a0
Labels: Articles , Street Violence , Youth