Although there have been many stories floating around on social media about the unexpected benefits this lockdown has had on the environment, and society as a whole. However, not everything has been for the best. Crime in general may be down, with robberies, burglaries, and sexual assault numbers showing significant decreases around Michigan, not every type of criminal activity has slowed down. Shootings, for example, have actually seen an increase in numbers, specifically in Detroit.
Data from the Detroit Police Department shows that in the first week of April 2020, there were eight murders and 27 nonfatal shootings in the city. These numbers are up from last year, when Detroit saw only five homicides during the same period of time, and 15 nonfatal shootings. In total, criminal homicides have spiked by 68%, and nonfatal shootings are up by 37%. (Interestingly, auto crimes are also up by 11%) Added to that is the fact that the Detroit Police Department has seen their ranks decimated by the Coronavirus, with numerous officers (including the Chief of Police) sidelined due to illness.
The initial lull in the violence soon picked up again…
At the start of quarantine, when people were still uncertain about what the future held, crimes sank to an all-time low. But as time passed, and people decided that they had less to fear from the virus than was initially expected, more people decided to get back to some kind of “normalcy” in life. However, given the fact that the Governor of Michigan had put a stay-at-home-order in place, very little of that “normalcy” was actually allowed. So in addition to their reduced ranks, the Detroit police are also dealing with huge numbers of prohibited gatherings.
Social distancing issues aside, though, the number of violent crimes has increased in Michigan since the lock down began. The Detroit police, who are working at a reduced capacity because so many officers are quarantined with Covid 19 right now, are trying to address the issues. “At the beginning of this year, we saw an uptick in violence, and we put a robust enforcement effort in place that had a positive impact,” said Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who is in quarantine himself after contracting the virus. “Now, we’re going to refocus on eradicating violence, like the shootings and homicides we’ve seen during narcotics transactions. We’re going to retool what we started earlier in the year.”
Shootings and homicides are dealt with very harshly in Michigan!
Prosecutors all over Michigan take gun-related crimes and murder very seriously. Anyone accused of a gun-related crime has a long, hard road ahead of them. This could include being accused of armed robbery, being in possession of a gun while committing a felony, being a felon in possession of a gun, shooting someone to death (or even just attempting to), and being in possession of an illegal weapon. Decades behind bars, thousands in court costs and fees, and losing your gun rights and voting rights are pretty standard if you don’t have a robust defense. And that’s where we come in.
At The Kronzek Firm, our experienced criminal defense attorneys have spent more than a quarter century working with people from all over the state who have been accused of gun-related and violent crimes. If you’ve been accused of shooting someone, or committing a crime with a gun, call us immediately at 866 766 5245 (866 7NoJail). We are available 24/7 to help Michigan residents facing criminal charges and needing a strong, aggressive defense. We can fight to protect your rights, and work to construct a strong, creative defense. Don’t wait, contact us immediately and make sure you hire a fierce warrior to defend you!