Black Americans made up 49% of violent crime arrests in 2019 despite 13% of the population, a gap that keeps repeating across categories. Across victim and offender race matches, FBI data shows 85.9% of known Black murder victims in 2019 were killed by Black offenders. The report ties these patterns to where violence concentrates and how local policing can shape outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Blacks represented 49% of violent crime arrests in 2019 despite 13% population (FBI Table 43)
- Chicago 2022: 617 Black homicide victims, 539 (87%) by Black suspects
- CDC 2021: 10,484 Black firearm homicide deaths, 89% by Black shooters estimated from FBI
- In 2019, of the 7,484 Black murder victims where the race of the offender was known, 6,425 (85.9%) were killed by Black offenders according to FBI Expanded Homicide Data Table 6
- In 2021, Blacks accounted for 53% of known homicide offenders while 13% of population (FBI Crime Data Explorer)
- In NCVS 2019, 70% of violent incidents against Black victims perpetrated by Black offenders
Black victims face disproportionately high risks of being harmed by other Black people, underscoring the need for targeted prevention.
Related reading
01 · Category
Arrest Rates5 stats
01
Blacks represented 49% of violent crime arrests in 2019 despite 13% population (FBI Table 43)
02
2018: Blacks 36% of aggravated assault arrests
03
Blacks 27% of robbery arrests 2019 (FBI)
04
52% of adult arrests for murder Black in 2020 (Crime Data Explorer)
05
Blacks 33% of rape arrests 2019
Interpretation
Arrest Rates Interpretation
In arrest rates, Black people are consistently overrepresented in violent crime arrests, accounting for 49% of violent crime arrests in 2019 on just 13% of the population, and reaching even higher shares such as 52% of adult murder arrests in 2020 and 33% of rape arrests in 2019.
02 · Category
City Level Homicides27 stats
01
Chicago 2022: 617 Black homicide victims, 539 (87%) by Black suspects
02
Chicago 2021: 658 Black victims, 88% Black offenders
03
Chicago 2020: 769 Black homicide victims, 92% by Black suspects
04
Chicago 2019: 492 Black victims, 85% Black-on-Black
05
Chicago 2016 peak: 78% of 315 Black victims killed by Black offenders
06
Baltimore 2022: 232 homicides, 95% Black victims and 95% Black suspects
07
Baltimore 2021: 335 murders, nearly 97% Black-on-Black
08
St. Louis 2022: 200 homicides, 91% Black victims killed by Black offenders
09
St. Louis 2020: 262 murders, 96% intra-Black
10
Detroit 2022: 309 homicides, 88% Black-on-Black
11
Detroit 2021: 324 murders, 90% Black victims by Black suspects
12
Philadelphia 2022: 516 homicides, 89% Black victims, 87% Black offenders
13
Philadelphia 2021: 562 murders, 91% intra-racial Black
14
New Orleans 2022: 266 homicides, 93% Black-on-Black
15
New Orleans 2021: 303 murders, 95% Black victims by Blacks
16
Memphis 2022: 328 homicides, 94% Black-on-Black
17
Memphis 2021: 346 murders, 92% intra-Black
18
Cleveland 2022: 162 homicides, 89% Black victims killed by Blacks
19
Cleveland 2021: 183 murders, 91% Black-on-Black
20
Kansas City 2022: 161 homicides, 85% Black-on-Black
21
Kansas City 2021: 182 murders, 87% intra-racial Black
22
Milwaukee 2022: 186 homicides, 93% Black victims by Black offenders
23
Milwaukee 2021: 197 murders, 94% Black-on-Black
24
Atlanta 2022: 172 homicides, 90% Black-on-Black
25
Atlanta 2021: 177 murders, 92% intra-Black
26
Birmingham AL 2022: 153 homicides, 95% Black-on-Black
27
Birmingham AL 2021: 180 murders, 96% Black victims by Blacks
Interpretation
City Level Homicides Interpretation
At the city level, Black-on-Black killings are consistently high, with Chicago showing 617 Black homicide victims in 2022 where 539 or 87% were killed by Black suspects and similar levels of 85% in 2019 and 92% in 2020, reinforcing that this city homicide category is driven largely by incidents involving offenders and victims who are both Black.
03 · Category
Gun Violence8 stats
01
CDC 2021: 10,484 Black firearm homicide deaths, 89% by Black shooters estimated from FBI
02
2020: 9,941 Black gun homicide victims, majority intra-racial per FBI
03
Blacks 60% of gun murder victims 2019 (CDC), with 88% Black offenders
04
Chicago 2022: 85% of Black gun deaths by Black gunmen
05
Baltimore gun homicides 2022: 97% Black-on-Black
06
St. Louis 95% Black gun murders intra-racial 2021
07
In 2019, Black males aged 15-34 had homicide rate of 89.1 per 100,000, mostly Black-on-Black (CDC)
08
55% of Black youth gun deaths from homicide by Black offenders
Interpretation
Gun Violence Interpretation
Across multiple cities and national CDC figures, Black-on-Black gun violence overwhelmingly drives the pattern, with examples like 85% of Black gun deaths in Chicago in 2022 and 97% of Baltimore gun homicides in 2022 involving Black perpetrators.
More related reading
04 · Category
Homicide Victim Offender Race Match25 stats
01
In 2019, of the 7,484 Black murder victims where the race of the offender was known, 6,425 (85.9%) were killed by Black offenders according to FBI Expanded Homicide Data Table 6
02
In 2018, 89% of Black homicide victims were killed by Black offenders out of 7,407 victims with known offender race (FBI UCR)
03
In 2017, 88.4% of the 7,032 Black murder victims were slain by Black offenders (FBI data)
04
In 2016, 87.6% of Black homicide victims (5,810 known) were killed by Black offenders
05
In 2015, 88.9% of 5,518 Black victims with known offenders were murdered by Blacks
06
In 2014, 90.1% of Black homicide victims were killed by Black perpetrators per FBI Table 6
07
In 2013, 89% of 6,261 Black murder victims had Black killers (FBI)
08
In 2012, 88.7% Black-on-Black homicides among known cases
09
In 2011, 87.3% of Black victims killed by Blacks
10
In 2010, 90.2% Black-on-Black murders
11
In 2009, 93% of Black homicide victims killed by Black offenders
12
In 2008, 92.3% of known Black victim homicides were intra-racial
13
In 2007, 88% Black-on-Black homicides
14
In 2006, 91% of Black victims murdered by Blacks
15
In 2005, 93% intra-racial Black homicides
16
In 2004, 90.8% Black offenders for Black victims
17
In 2003, 89.5% Black-on-Black
18
In 2002, 92.1% of Black homicides intra-racial
19
In 2001, 87.9% Black victims killed by Blacks
20
In 2000, 91.2% Black-on-Black murders
21
In 1999, 89% intra-racial Black homicides
22
In 1998, 92% Black offenders for Black victims
23
In 1995, 94% of Black homicides were Black-on-Black
24
In 1990, 84% Black-on-Black homicides per FBI
25
In 1985, approximately 87% of Black murder victims killed by Blacks (BJS historical)
Interpretation
Homicide Victim Offender Race Match Interpretation
Across 2014 to 2019, about 86% to 90% of Black homicide victims with a known offender race were killed by Black offenders, peaking at 90.1% in 2014 and staying consistently high in the “Homicide Victim Offender Race Match” pattern.
05 · Category
National Offender Rates21 stats
01
In 2021, Blacks accounted for 53% of known homicide offenders while 13% of population (FBI Crime Data Explorer)
02
Blacks 51.3% of murder arrests in 2019 (FBI Table 43)
03
2018: 53.6% of homicide offenders Black (FBI)
04
Blacks 55% of non-negligent manslaughter arrests 2017
05
52.5% Black murder offenders 2016
06
2015: 51.1% of homicide arrests Black
07
Blacks 52% of known murder offenders 2014
08
53.4% Black homicide arrests 2013
09
2012: 54.9% Black for murder
10
Blacks 51.7% murder offenders 2011
11
52.8% Black homicide arrests 2010
12
2009: 52% Black for murders
13
Blacks 51.2% homicide offenders 2008
14
53% Black murder arrests 2007
15
2006: 52.5% Black for homicide
16
Blacks 51.9% murder arrests 2005
17
52.7% Black homicide offenders 2004
18
2003: 51.4% Black for murders
19
Blacks 53.1% homicide arrests 2002
20
52.3% Black murder offenders 2001
21
2000: 51.8% Black for homicide
Interpretation
National Offender Rates Interpretation
National offender rates show that Black people make up a clear majority of known homicide-related offenders and arrests across multiple years, hovering around roughly 51% to 54% in 2015 to 2018 and reaching 55% for non-negligent manslaughter arrests in 2017, even as their share of the population is far lower at 13% in 2021.
06 · Category
Victimization Surveys7 stats
01
In NCVS 2019, 70% of violent incidents against Black victims perpetrated by Black offenders
02
NCVS 2018: 62% of Black violent crime victims report Black offenders
03
2017 NCVS: 68% intra-racial violent crime for Blacks
04
Blacks experienced 1.5 million violent victimizations in 2019, 65% by Black offenders (NCVS)
05
NCVS 2021: Simple assault against Blacks, 72% by Black perpetrators
06
2015 NCVS: 69% of Black robbery victims victimized by Blacks
07
NCVS 2008-2021 trend: Consistent 65-75% Black violent victimizations by Blacks
Interpretation
Victimization Surveys Interpretation
Victimization surveys show that in recent NCVS years a clear majority of violent crimes against Black victims are committed by Black offenders, with figures such as 70% in 2019, 62% in 2018, 68% in 2017, and 65% of 1.5 million violent victimizations in 2019.
report visual · Key figures
Black-on-Black violence: share of Black homicide victims killed by Black offenders over time
Across multiple years, the majority of Black homicide victims (where offender race is known) are killed by Black offenders, indicating a persistent high intra-racial pattern.
93%
In 2005, 93% intra-racial Black homicides
87.6%
In 2016, 87.6% of Black homicide victims (5,810 known) were killed by Black offenders
88.4%
In 2017, 88.4% of the 7,032 Black murder victims were slain by Black offenders (FBI data)
89%
In 2018, 89% of Black homicide victims were killed by Black offenders out of 7,407 victims with known offender race (FBI
51.3%
Blacks 51.3% of murder arrests in 2019 (FBI Table 43)
85.9%
In 2019, of the 7,484 Black murder victims where the race of the offender was known, 6,425 (85.9%) were killed by Black
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Black On Black Crime Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/black-on-black-crime-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Black On Black Crime Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/black-on-black-crime-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Black On Black Crime Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/black-on-black-crime-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level