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Kent Co. Medical Examiner’s Report: Homicides, Drug Deaths Down in 2013

Posted at 9:58 PM, Jul 03, 2014
and last updated 2014-07-03 22:46:37-04

Screen shot 2014-07-03 at 9.59.17 PMKENT COUNTY, Mich. (July 3, 2014) — The Kent County Medical Examiner’s annual report shows a decline in homicides and drug deaths in 2013 compared to 2012.

Of the 25 homicides in the county last year, 15 were committed with guns.  In 2012, 20 of the 30 homicides were committed with firearms.

There were 77 drug deaths in 2013, compared to 97 in 2012 and 69 in 2011.  Eighteen of last year’s drug deaths involved heroin, which is just over 23 percent.

According to the examiner’s report, the suicide rate rose to its highest level of the past five years.  Thirty of the 75 suicides in the county were people between the ages of 20 and 44 years old.