Louisville suffering from violent start to 2024 as March homicides double from a year ago

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It has been a violent start to the year in Louisville with at least 36 homicides so far in 2024.

At least 15 of this year's homicides have happened in March. Last year, there were seven homicides in the month of March. Community activists said it's a trend in the wrong direction.

"We started out March in a very bad space," said Christopher 2X with local nonviolence nonprofit Christopher 2X Game Changers Organization. "The young, the old, the middle age, have lost their lives to fatal shootings."

2X said no one has a crystal ball, but this month's homicide numbers could send Louisville into another triple-digit homicide year.

"We are now nearly climbing at 40 homicides already within the first three months of 2024. That's a problem," 2X said. "The numbers are horrible. Families suffer a great deal."

Christopher 2X talks to WDRB about the recent homicides in Louisville.

Louisville Metro Police has responded to at least 15 homicides this month as of Saturday, with more than one week left. Four people died and four others were sent to the hospital after several shootings around Louisville in the first weekend of March.

"This is uncomfortable for the public. It's uncomfortable for city government," 2X said. "This is a horrible public health crisis and issue and we don't want them [the youth] to follow that pathway."

LMPD said department data shows homicides increased from 89 in 2019 to 168 in 2020. Ever since, that number has remained in the triple digits.

LMPD investigated 150 criminal homicides last year alone.

2018 - 80
2019 - 89
2020 - 168
2021 - 178
2022 - 157
2023 - 150

"It's depressing. Not only for myself, but I think for our entire community," Bishop Walter Jones, with the Baptized Pentecostal Church of Holiness, said. "The majority of the homicides are occurring from the hands of our young people. And, it is very disturbing and very, very depressing."

In January of this year, there were 12 homicides reported, followed by another nine in February.

"They don't understand the value of life," Jones said.

And the number of non-fatal shootings is even higher. Jones said young people need to get connected within Louisville's faith community.

"That's lacking in so many lives and so many hearts and so many homes," Jones said.

In a statement to WDRB News, Mayor Craig Greenberg said, "We are working with urgency to end gun violence and make Louisville a safer, stronger and healthier city. From expanding the GVI (Gun Violence Intervention program) to advocating for gun legislation on the state level and more, my administration is committed to taking action to protect more lives."

Jones wants families to lean on his congregation.

"If they want help, they can let us know, and not be ashamed, not be afraid to ask for help," Jones said. "Sometimes that is a negative thing in some people's lives, to feel that in asking for help. It diminishes them as individuals, but all of us are people. We are human."

2023 saw a slight decrease in homicides compared to 2022. It's something some say is worth trying to achieve again.

"We're hoping for a break, but sometimes it's a tough road to try to get this reversal," 2X, said.

"LMPD’s top priority is reduction of the violent crime which continues to plague our city," LMPD spokesperson Aaron Ellis said in a statement. "We continue daily to strengthen the relationship between the department and the community we serve in order to reach our common goal of making Louisville a safer city for our residents and those that visit our community. As we have shared, the men and women assigned to LMPD’s Homicide Unit are working diligently to bring closure and justice to each victim and their families. Each homicide represents an individual who does not have a voice, and a family that does not have a loved-one, a community that has lost a member."

Anyone with information is urged to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

Jones said the Baptized Pentecostal Church of Holiness has Sunday and Wednesday engagement opportunities. He also said the church is currently engaging with children and families in others ways too. For more information, click here.

2X Game Changers Organization hosts several programs aimed at education children and ending violence in Louisville. For more information, click here.

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