Murder Rate Rose 50% in 1989, Police Say

An upswing in gang violence and drug dealing caused Inglewood’s murder rate to rise 50% last year, making 1989 the second-deadliest year in the city’s history, according to year-end estimates released last week by the Inglewood Police Department.

Police reported 46 murders in the city last year, compared to the record 55 reported in 1980. At the same time, the number of shootings involving Inglewood police officers more than tripled, rising from three in 1988 to 11 in 1989.

In part, police attributed that increase to gangs and drugs. “We are aggressively attacking gangs and drugs on our streets,” Sgt. Harold Moret said. “We are going to have police officer-criminal conflicts.”