Almost 90% of Dayton’s homicide victims in 2011 were black, nearly twice the national average

While the city’s homicide numbers are remaining stable, the percentage of homicide victims who are black has increased dramatically from 65% in 2003 to 86% in 2011. Blacks make up 42.9% of Dayton’s population, according to the U.S. Census. By comparison, 67% of New York City’s homicide victims in 2010 were black, according to that city’s Police Department. Blacks make up 25% of New York City’s population, according to the Census. According to the FBI, 48.9% of the homicide victims in 2010 nationwide were black. And 90% of black victims nationally — for whom an assailant was known — were killed by a black person, the FBI reported.