Homicides up nearly 30% in 2020, biggest 1-year jump ever, FBI says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homicides in the U.S. in 2020 increased nearly 30% over the previous year, the largest one-year jump since the FBI began keeping records, according to figures released Monday by the agency.

Homicides and non-negligent manslaughters climbed an estimated 29.4% to 21,570, an increase of 4,901 over 2019, FBI data showed. It is the highest estimated total since the early 1990s, when homicides stayed above 23,000 a year as drug wars played out in many places in the U.S.

Violent crimes in 2020 went up by a more moderate 5.6% over the previous year while property crimes continued a nearly two-decade decline, falling 7.8%. Robbery and rape dropped 9.3% and 12% respectively.

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James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston, said he considered 2020 a “unique situation” and not part of any sort of long-term trend. He attributed the dramatic uptick to a confluence of factors, including the coronavirus pandemic, conflicts over politics and race and people just generally having too much free time.

“I don’t want to minimize what’s happened. I just don’t want people to believe that the sky is falling and that this is a permanent” trend, Fox added. Even with the huge homicide rise, he noted, the number is still far lower than what the country endured during the crack cocaine epidemic 30 years ago.

While the drops in other crime categories are positive news, homicides were the stunning trend — one that has continued this year. A number of communities, rural and metropolitan, have experienced continued increases in homicides. The rising violence has become a political battleground in the year after protests over policing erupted in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. Several candidates with law enforcement backgrounds are running or plan to run for various offices around the country.

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Gun control groups noted that firearms were the primary driver of the violence.

“This jump in murders is just the latest proof that we are experiencing a gun violence epidemic within the COVID pandemic,” John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement. “This death spiral will continue until we stem the flow of illegal guns and invest in proven intervention programs.”

The Uniform Crime Report program is run by the FBI and collects data annually from law enforcement agencies in a number of categories, among them violent crimes, rape, robbery and aggravated assault as well as property crimes. The data is estimated because not all agencies submit information. The FBI said about 85% of the 18,619 law enforcement agencies eligible submitted data in 2020. As a result, the FBI cautions against using its report to rank cities.

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Passenger on JetBlue flight tried to storm cockpit, choke flight attendant with necktie, FBI says

BOSTON (WPRI/NEXSTAR) — A passenger on a JetBlue flight is facing federal charges after allegedly choking a flight attendant and trying to enter the cockpit on a recent flight, according to an FBI affidavit.

The flight, which originated in Boston, was about an hour out from landing in Puerto Rico when the attack occurred Wednesday.

Investigators say the passenger, identified as Khalil El Dahr in an FBI affidavit obtained by The Daily Beast, became agitated when he was unable to make a call on his cell phone. A short while afterward, he ran toward the front of the plane yelling that he wanted to be shot, according to information obtained by an FBI investigator.

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A flight attendant was able to intervene before El Dahr reached the cockpit door, per the affidavit. A member of the flight crew then opened the door to the flight deck, at which point El Dahr began again demanding to be shot.

The man also began choking the flight attendant attempting to keep him away from the cockpit by grabbing and pulling on the crew member's tie.

Several crew members were eventually able to restrain the man using seat belt extenders and, as one witness noted, the very tie that belonged to the flight attendant, which was fastened around the man's ankles.

The passenger now faces charges of interfering with a flight crew, according to the affidavit.

A representative for the San Juan field office of the FBI confirmed the incident but could not disclose additional details.

Hawaiian Airlines flight to Seattle diverted after passenger refuses to comply with mask mandate

The Federal Aviation Administration said this week that the number of incidents involving unruly passengers was still "too high" despite dropping sharply amid the FAA's announcement of a "zero-tolerance" policy, first enacted in January.

“Our work is having an impact and the trend is moving in the right direction. But we need the progress to continue. This remains a serious safety threat, and one incident is one too many,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said in a news release issued Thursday.

The FAA further said that reports of unruly passengers were still coming in at twice the rate they were reported at the end of 2020. Since January 2021, the agency has received reports of at least 4,385 such incidents, the majority of which involve passengers refusing to comply with mask mandates.

The FAA has also proposed over $1,100,000 in civil penalties (collectively) against some of those disruptive passengers since enacting its zero-tolerance policy.

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Gabby Petito's death ruled homicide after autopsy confirms ID of remains in Wyoming, FBI says

You can find the latest on the investigation involving Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie here. Download the WFLA app for breaking news push alerts and sign up for breaking news email alerts.

TAMPA (WFLA) - Officials with the FBI in Denver confirmed Tuesday afternoon that a body found in Wyoming on Sunday was Gabby Petito and announced her death is being looked into as a homicide.

Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue's initial determination for the manner of death is homicide, according to the FBI. The cause of death remains pending final autopsy results.

The confirmation officially ends a nearly two-week search for Petito after her fiancé Brian Laundrie, returned alone from a cross-country trip the two were taking.

Laundrie is still a person of interest in his fiancé Gabby Petito’s disappearance, was reported missing to police on Friday, Sept. 17. According to police, his parents reported last seeing him last Tuesday, Sept. 14, in hiking gear. He has not been named as a suspect in the ongoing investigation. and law enforcement are looking for him.

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“Anyone with information concerning Mr. Laundrie’s role in this matter or his current whereabouts should contact the FBI.

An attorney for Gabby Petito’s family released a brief statement to the media early Tuesday as her family awaited results from the autopsy.

“I want to personally thank the press and news media for giving the Petito and Schmidt family time to grieve,” lawyer Richard Stafford said, referring to Petito’s mom, dad, stepfather and stepmother. “We will be making a statement when Gabby is home. I will contact you to arrange a time and location.”

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The FBI is seeking information from anyone who utilized the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area between the dates of Aug. 27-30, who may have had contact with Ms. Petito or Mr. Laundrie, or who may have seen their van, the FBI said.

Investigators have been searching the Carlton Reserve, a 24,000-acre wooded area near Laundrie’s parents’ home. Brian Laundrie and Petito had been living there before their road trip.

This is a developing story check back for updates.

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