OSBI Sees 'Alarming Increase In Murder Rate'

Preliminary statistics released by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation show, what it calls, an “alarming increase in the murder rate.”

Numbers show from 2014 to 2015 murders in Oklahoma increased 35.4 percent. OSBI did not provide an opinion for the increase.

The agency said other violent crimes – rape, robbery, and aggravated assault – have not dramatically changed.

It also said non-violent crimes – burglary, larceny, and auto theft – have decreased by nearly 5 percent.

According to OSBI, the agency collects statistics on index crimes from Oklahoma, report the numbers to the FBI and publish them in the Oklahoma Uniform Crime Report.

OSBI said statisticians are finishing their full report and will publish it later this month.