Adolescent femicide - A population-based study

Author: Coyne-Beasley, T. / Moracco, K. E. / Casteel, M. J.
Publication: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Topics: Age Group Crime Criminology Gender Homicide State
Keywords: Firearms criminal record intimate violence relatiionship abuse
Bibliographic information +

The authors examined the context of adolescent femicide, using data from medical examiner reports for all 11- to 18-year-old female homicide victims from 1990 to 1995 in North Carolina and supplementing that information with law enforcement interviews. Of 90 victims, 63 were aged 15 to 18 years and 55 were killed with firearms. For the 37 femicides for which interviews were conducted, the most common contexts were altercation, relationship issues, and reckless behavior with a firearm. Nearly 90% of perpetrators were men, were older than their victims, and more than half had criminal records. 78% of victims were killed by an acquaintance or intimate partner.