Indianapolis ends another record-breaking year with 271 homicides

Indianapolis saw another record-breaking year for homicides, with 271 people killed.

That number includes non-criminal homicides, which are killings that do not result in criminal charges. Those include accidental killings, self defense killings and suicides.

Of this past year’s homicides, most of them – 249 – were classified as criminal homicides, murders. That is an increase from the previous record, set in 2020, when the city reported 245 homicides, and 214 were classified criminal.

Many of the homicides in 2021 are still unsolved. IMPD Chief Randal Taylor told WFYI, in November, that some community members are reluctant to come forward with information.

“I understand there's a lot to take in and people are somewhat concerned with retaliation and all those kinds of things. But I would say, give us an opportunity to take care of you,” he said.

A record $295 million was recently allocated for IMPD in the 2022 city budget. That funding includes money for new technology to better track crime and more officers for community patrols.