Despite a drop in overall crime, Charlotte’s homicide rate jumped nearly 54 percent in the first four months of 1020, CMPD reported Wednesday.

As of April 30, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department had investigated 20 killings, up from 13 in the same period last year.

Four of this year's killings can be traced to a single incident. In March, 33-year-old Kenneth Jermaine Chapman killed his wife and two of his daughters, then turned a gun on himself as police were closing in.

Overall, crime in the Qcity fell 14.5 percent through April. Property crimes decreased 15.5 percent, CMPD said, while violent crime was down 7 percent.

In other categories:

606 robberies were reported through the end of April, compared to 652 last year -- a 7.1 percent decrease.

56 rapes were reported compared to 86 -- a 34.9 percent decrease.

861 aggravated assaults were reported compared to 908, down 5.2 percent.

Burglary overall was down -2.8 percent (2,826 compared to 2,908) with an increase of 3.9 percent in residential (2,280 compared to 2,194) and a decrease of 23.5 percent in commercial cases (546 compared to 714).
742 vehicle thefts were reported compared to 1,193 -- a 37.8 percent decrease.
Total larceny cases declined 17.1 percent (6,790 compared to 8,188) with the larcenies from autos down 30.9 percent (2,967 compared to 4,291).
102 arson cases were reported compared to 91, resulting in a 12.1 percent decrease.
 

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