Collinsville police report a 400% increase in homicides from 2022 to 2023, with five deaths this year. The recent killing of Tyrese L. Owens, 21, is being investigated by the Major Case Squad. Despite the spike, police chief Steve Evans assures there is no threat to the public. Cameron Bopp reported
Collinsville, Illinois Witnesses 400% Spike in Homicides
The Collinsville Police Department has released new data revealing a significant increase in homicides compared to the previous year. Concerns raised by local residents prompted an investigation into the numbers after a recent fatal stabbing in the city.
Collinsville Police Chief Steve Evans expressed his distress, stating, “It disturbs us because we value the sanctity of human life.”
According to the data from the Collinsville Police Department:
- 2023 – 5 homicides
- 2022 – 1 homicide
- 2021 – 1 homicide
- 2020 – 1 homicide
- 2019 – 0 homicides
- 2018 – 1 homicide
- 2017 – 1 homicide
The most recent killing is currently under investigation by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. A man named Tyrese L. Owens, 21, was found dead in a ditch on Loop Street. Owens, a resident of the 500 block of Loop Street, suffered a serious laceration to his torso.
Sandra Callahan, a resident of the area for 30 years, expressed her shock at the sudden increase in law enforcement activity. She said, “Typically, it’s nice and quiet, and there’s nothing going on. The kids are in school. It’s peaceful. Yesterday, it was detectives and policemen down at the corner. I didn’t have any idea what was going on, and then I was told one of our youth had gotten stabbed. It was devastating, just devastating.”
Callahan emphasized her long-standing positive interactions with her neighbors and called for intervention to guide young individuals away from violence. Collinsville, with a population of approximately 25,000 people, is a close-knit community.
Collinsville Police Chief Evans acknowledged that these killings have far-reaching impacts on the entire community. He stated, “To confirm, we have had five deaths in four homicide cases this year. It disturbs us because we value the sanctity of human life and we are trusted to protect lives. However, each of the cases were isolated, unrelated, and did not involve random victims.”
Chief Evans reassured the public that there is no immediate threat to their safety. He mentioned that his department will assess the situation and work with city officials to determine the best approach to communicate with residents regarding the rise in homicides this year.
In relation to the recent fatal stabbing, the Collinsville police have enlisted the assistance of the Major Case Squad, which currently has 20 investigators working on the case. As of now, no arrests have been made. Individuals with any relevant information are urged to contact the Major Case Squad at 618-344-2131 (x5300).
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