Characteristics and patterns of older adult homicides in the United States

Abstract

Background Nearly 1800 homicides were reported in 2018 among individuals aged 60 years or older in the US. The characteristics and circumstances of these homicides are understudied. We investigated the trends of homicides over time and compared victim, perpetrator, and incident characteristics by mechanism (firearm vs. non-firearm) among adults aged 60 years or older. Methods We examined cross-sectional restricted-access data from the National Violent Death Reporting System from 2003 to 2017. Fatal Injury Data by CDC provided age-adjusted homicide rates. We quantitatively summarized victim, perpetrator, and incident characteristics for firearm and non-firearm homicides. We also reviewed 150 qualitative narratives to better understand the context of older adult homicides perpetrated by firearms. All data were analyzed in February 2020. Results Overall and firearm-specific older adult homicide rates increased between 2014 and 2017. Of the 6188 victims, 62% were male. The majority of victims (68%) were killed at home. Firearms (44%), sharp (19%) and blunt weapons (15%) were common mechanisms used in older adult homicides. The perpetrator was an intimate partner in 39% of firearm homicides and 12% of non-firearm homicides (prevalence difference = 27%; 95% CI: 25, 30%). Similarly, homicide-suicides (prevalence difference = 21%; 95% CI: 19, 22%) and multiple-victim incidents (prevalence difference = 7%; 95% CI: 5, 8%) were more common in firearm (23 and 13%, respectively) than in non-firearm (2 and 6%, respectively) homicides. Common contexts of firearm homicides were familial/intimate partner problems, robbery/burglary, argument, and illness. Conclusions A substantial number of older adults were killed with firearms and by their intimate partners. Further research to identify violence victimization prevention strategies in this group, especially those that limit access to firearms by potential perpetrators, is warranted.

Patterns of homicide in Sfax, Tunisia: A 9‐year cohort study (2011–2019)

“…Wherever reported, most homicide victims are, as in our study, men, for example, India (Behera & Sikary, 2019), USA (Shawon et al., 2021), Kosovo (van Wyngaarden et al, 2020), and globally (UNODC, 2019). Similarly, the most likely age range of the victims in our study is similar to elsewhere (Behera & Sikary, 2019; Khelil et al., 2017).…”

Trends, Correlates, and Contexts of Robbery-Homicide in South Africa

“…In the US this raced perception of escalated risk has been used to explain the disproportionate use of lethal force against black males in a range of violent contexts (Felson & Painter-Davis, 2012). The finding that older white men are more likely to be killed during robberies also echoes the international finding that firearms are the most common weapon used in homicides of older male adults in their homes, and that this risk is linked to older adults commonly owning firearms for self-defence, and in turn, situational access to firearms (Shawon et al, 2021).…”

“…In the Netherlands, recent qualitative research demonstrates that these mixed findings may be explained by the fact that the relationship between gun use and fatal outcomes is differentially shaped by the interactional dimensions of dominance, resistance, and compliance between victims and perpetrators (Mosselman et al, 2018). These dimensions are also influenced by the presence of multiple victims, which increases the risk of homicide by a firearm (Shawon et al, 2021). In combination, the results of these studies on the role of firearms in risk for homicide during robberies suggest that a fatal outcome is seemingly overdetermined by firearm use by the perpetrator but also shaped by whether the victim is armed, the number of victims and a range of other situational dynamics.…”

Epidemiology of Homicide in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Subsequent reports on violence prevention identify that information on the extent, causes, and consequences of abuse of the elderly is largely unknown (Krug et al, 2002;WHO, 2014) and that research on the effectiveness of elder abuse interventions is unreliable and lacks utility (Baker et al, 2016;Pillemer et al, 2016). Equally concerning, despite a global declining trend in homicide (UNODC, 2019a), the rates for older adults either remain stable or have slightly increased (Mouzos, 2000;Riedel, 2013;Shawon et al, 2021), indicating a failure to achieve substantive improvements in prevention. For example, one recent study from the United States found that homicide against older males (aged 60-69 years) had increased by over 19% from 2013 to 2016 (Logan et al, 2019).…”