Murders More Prevalent in 2005, FBI Reports

June 12, 2006 — -- Murder is on the rise in the United States, and some are worried the situation is only going to get worse.

According to national figures released today by the FBI, murders, robberies and aggravated assaults in the United States increased in 2005 -- the first time there was an overall rise in violent crime since 2001.

Murders rose 4.8 percent, meaning there were more than 16,900 murder victims in 2005. It was the largest murder total since 1998 and the largest percentage increase in 15 years.

According to the FBI's report, several cities saw jumps in murder numbers: from 272 to 334 in Houston, a 23 percent increase; from 330 to 377 in Philadelphia, a 14 percent spike; and from 131 to 144 in Las Vegas, a 10 percent increase, according to the data.

However, the number of murders dropped in several large cities, including Detroit, Los Angeles and New York.

Overall the rise in violent crime was 2.5 percent -- more than 1.4 million crimes and the largest percentage increase since 1991. Robberies were up 4.5 percent and aggravated assaults increased 1.9 percent. The number of rapes decreased 1.9 percent.

In anticipation of the FBI's release of the 2005 statistics, ABC News reviewed last year's crime in the nation's 40 most populous cities and found a 4 percent increase in homicides.

In one of the biggest jumps in a decade, 396 more people were killed in 20 cities where homicides were up. Many cities -- including Houston; Memphis, Tenn.; Philadelphia; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Nashville, Tenn. -- had double digit surges.

In Kansas City, Mo., homicides rose 40 percent, prompting the city to form a task force to find out why.

"They are looking at every one of our murders from last year to try to find out if there is some common thread," said the Kansas City Police Department Capt. Rich Lockhart.

In Memphis, there were two dozen more killings last year than in 2004. After a 50 percent surge in homicides at one point this year, the department shifted tactics.

"Instead of blanketing the city, which is very hard to do, we're targeting specific areas where crime has increased," said Lt. Joe Scott of the Memphis Police Department.

The new tactic appears to be working. The murder rate has decreased by nearly 30 percent.

Some of the nationwide increase is due to drug-related violence and gangs. That trend has police worried as they remember the late 1980s and early 1990s when crack-cocaine wars terrorized U.S. streets.

Law enforcement officials say juvenile access to guns and the release of violent career criminals from prison also have contributed to the rise. Some criminologists believe crime has risen because many cities have slashed successful crime-prevention efforts, such as community policing and after-school crime prevention programs.

"We got a little too bit complacent thinking of all of our problems had been solved and they're back now, with a vengeance," said James Fox, professor of criminal justice at Northeastern University.

ABC's Pierre Thomas reported this story for "Good Morning America."