Susie Neilson

May 31, 2021

Like other U.S. cities, Oakland has seen a sharp uptick in homicides as the pandemic has unfolded. Through May 23, the city had recorded 51 homicides for the year, a 132% increase compared with the same period last year and a 70% increase compared with 2019.

The Chronicle analyzed where homicides have been occurring in the city and how the numbers compared with prior years. First we looked at the locations of homicides within the city’s five patrol areas as designated by the Oakland Police Department.

So far this year, the areas with the most homicides are Area 3, the region encompassing Fruitvale and Central Oakland, and Area 5, Oakland’s easternmost section — consistent with prior years. Those two regions had 32 homicides as of May 23, making up 63% of the city’s total homicide count.