Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 17, 1993                   TAG: 9307170046
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

RICHMOND HOMICIDE RATE SLOWS

Richmond homicides in the first half of 1993 are down 16 percent from levels at the mid-point of last year, according to figures released Friday.

If the trend holds, Richmond faces its first significant drop since 1983 in a homicide rate that is one of the nation's highest. In recent years, the city regularly has ranked fourth or fifth nationally among large cities in murders per 100,000 residents.

"Hopefully, some of the urban strategies" adopted by the police department and city leaders are paying off, said Capt. Kenneth Jenkins, spokesman for the police department. "We'd like to think the impact is there."

Fifty-two homicides were committed in Richmond in the first six months of 1993, according to the data. That compares with 62 a year earlier.

At least one statistic produced little cheer, however: Five juveniles have been charged with homicide this year, including one 13-year-old and two 14-year-olds. The other arrested juveniles are 15 and 17.

"It looks like the perpetrators are getting younger and younger all the time," said Jenkins.

Nor has the improved rate prevented violence from infiltrating some previously safe sections of the city. Several killings have occurred within a close radius of the capital this year, an area previously free of such crime.

Overall, major crime in Richmond was down about one-half of one percent through June 30.

There were 117 murders in Richmond last year, a number that has risen steadily - except for a few minor dips - since 1983. There were 62 homicides in the city that year.