The epidemiology of homicide perpetration by children

Abstract

BackgroundThe United States has by far the highest rates of homicide perpetration among high-income countries. The perpetration of homicide by children is often newsworthy, but little is known about the incidence or the circumstances of child homicide perpetration.MethodsWe use data from the sixteen states reporting to the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for all years 2005–2012. We read every violent death report that was classified a homicide with a child suspect (aged 0–14). To help ensure that we did not miss any homicide cases we also read those classified as an other-inflicted unintentional firearm injury death with a child shooter, to determine if they were actually homicides.ResultsThere were 154 child suspects, which corresponds to an average annual rate of 1.2 child perpetrators per million child population. We estimate for the United States as a whole, 74 children per year were homicide perpetrators. Nearly 90% were boys, 79% were aged 13–14, and another 13% were aged 11–12. We created five categories, which accounted for over 70% of events with sufficient information to determine what happened: (1) The caretaker, a juvenile, typically an older brother, is given the responsibility to care for an infant. The homicide usually occurs in a residence, and blunt force is used (no guns); (2) Killing an adult family member, typically a parent or grandparent. These cases usually occur in a residence, and the child uses either a gun or a knife; (3) Impulsive shooting during play, the child typically shoots a sibling or friend. Except for some notion of momentary anger, these cases look much like unintentional firearm fatalities; (4) Robbery, a group of youth are trying to steal money, usually from an adult; and (5) Group Assault, a group of youth are fighting, usually other youth.ConclusionsChild homicide perpetrators are typically boys who use guns, and the events can be classified into a small number of relevant categories. Such a categorization of events is useful for understanding the problem and determining solutions.

Homicide Illustrated Across the Ages: Graphic Depictions of Victim and Offender Age, Sex, and Relationship

“…For children from birth to 14 years who kill others, NVDRS data revealed boys (90%) more likely to kill than girls. Young males killed infants, a parent, or grandparent, friends (impulsively shot during play), and were more often involved in robbery, and gang violence (Hemenway & Solnick, 2017). Homicide by young girls was rare, and their victims were more often children (0-5 years old), associated with overwhelming childcare responsibilities (younger siblings; Sellers & Heide, 2012).…”

Youth Who Kill in Turkey: A Study on Juvenile Homicide Offenders, Their Offenses, and Their Differences From Violent and Nonviolent Juvenile Delinquents

“…These findings were consistent with several previous studies’ findings, which indicated that most of the homicides committed by juveniles were motivated by a noncriminal act. (Hemenway & Solnick, 2017; Swart et al, 2015; Vries & Liem, 2011). However, we did not conduct a structured content analyses on the case files and have not been able to determine precisely the dynamics of these fights and arguments in further detail.…”

“…Finally, previous studies looking at case characteristics of the homicides committed by juveniles, first, reported that the victims were mostly strangers (Ahonen et al, 2016; Hemenway & Solnick, 2017; Swart et al, 2015; Vries & Liem, 2011). In regard to the weapon of choice in these offenses, Ahonen et al (2016), Cornell, (1993), Hemenway and Solnick (2017), Farrington et al (2012), Heide, Roe-Sepowitz, Solomon, and Chan (2011), and Heide (1993) reported that firearms were the most common weapons used in the cases that they examined. Several other studies reported that sharp objects and knives were also used as weapons in the murder cases committed by juveniles (Chan & Heide, 2008; Rodway et al, 2011b; Vries & Liem, 2011).…”

“…First, the literature on JHOs consistently indicated that the majority of these offenders were male (Baglivio & Wolff, 2017; Farrington, Loeber, & Berg, 2012; Hemenway & Solnick, 2017; Rodway et al, 2011a; Swart, Seedat, & Nel, 2015) and African American (in the United States; Hemenway & Solnick, 2017; Loeber et al, 2005). In addition, Ahonen, Loeber and Pardini (2016) found that the majority of the homicide offenders in their study were in their late teens.…”

“…Several other studies reported that sharp objects and knives were also used as weapons in the murder cases committed by juveniles (Chan & Heide, 2008; Rodway et al, 2011b; Vries & Liem, 2011). Finally, a limited number of previous studies reported that, in most of the cases, the motive was noncriminal, mostly a conflict or fight between the offender and the victim (Hemenway & Solnick, 2017; Swart et al, 2015; Vries & Liem, 2011).…”