FBI: Murders Rise 22 Percent in Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) -- Preliminary FBI statistics released Monday show the number of murders in Atlanta soared 22 percent last year compared to the year before. The statistics also showed that in several other areas of the state the number stayed the same or fell slightly. The FBI says there were 110 murders in Atlanta in 2006, compared to 90 the year before. The rise last year followed a nearly 20 percent drop in murders in Atlanta in 2005 compared to 2004. In Athens-Clarke County, there were five murders last year, equal to the year before. The FBI sats there were 22 murders in Columbus in 2006, the same as in 2005. In the Savannah-Chatham metropolitan area, the number of murders dropped slightly to 29 last year, compared to 30 the year before. Violent crime, overall, was up in Atlanta last year compared to 2005. Robberies, aggravated assaults, property crimes, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts were up, though the number of forcible rapes, larceny thefts and arsons were down in the city. Nationwide, the murder rate rose slightly last year but the number of robberies rose by six percent. The statistics were part of an overall 1.3 percent rise in violent crime across the country in 2006. That's the second straight annual increase. But car thefts, arsons and other property crimes dipped nationally for the second straight year.