The number of homicides in North Dakota reached an all-time high in 2020, according to the annual crime report released Wednesday by North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.
Itâs the second consecutive year the statistic has set a new mark. The reasons aren't clear, though Stenehjem said it doesn't appear the pandemic was a factor.
The state had 32 homicides in 2020 -- up from 26 in 2019 -- which is the highest number since the state started compiling statistics in 1978 âand probably the most serious weâve ever had in the history of the state of North Dakota,â Stenehjem said.
Twelve of the homicides were the result of domestic violence and many of the rest were the result of âdrug deals gone bad,â Stenehjem said. Firearms were involved in 15 of the deaths. Four of the victims were minors.