Homicide rate in Oklahoma City reaches highest level in six years

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The number of homicides in Oklahoma City in 2005 reached its highest level in six years.<br/><br/>Police say they investigated 58 homicides last year, compared with 51 in 2004 and

Monday, January 30th 2006, 6:10 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The number of homicides in Oklahoma City in 2005 reached its highest level in six years.

Police say they investigated 58 homicides last year, compared with 51 in 2004 and 56 in 2003.

Captain Jay Digby -- the head of the police homicide unit -- says a majority of the killings happened as a result of arguments between people who knew each other.

Gang violence was the second-leading cause of death. Five lives ended during robberies, which ranked among the lowest causes.

The number of deaths in 2005 still lags behind levels reached between the late 1970s and mid-1990s.

The record high -- excluding the Murrah Building bombing victims in 1995 -- was in 1979, when 102 homicides were reported.