Homicides in County Up 17% Over Last Year

Los Angeles County may see nearly 2,500 homicides this year if the pattern of the first four months of the year continues, according to statistics released Monday by the coroner’s office.

Statistics from the first four months of 1990 indicate that the homicide rate has risen at what Deputy Coroner Ilona Lewis called an “unprecedented” 17.1%, compared to the same period last year.

There have been 772 homicides this year, and if the rate continues, the year’s total will be 2,449, coroner’s spokesman Bob Dambacher said. That would be 358 more than last year’s total of 2,091.