Number of justifiable homicides U.S. 2007-2023
In 2023, law enforcement officers committed 303 justifiable homicides in the United States. A justifiable homicide is defined as the killing of a felon during the commission of a felony.
What is homicide?
Homicide occurs when one person kills another; however it is not exactly the same as murder. It may or may not be considered criminal. Legal examples include a person killing an intruder in their home or capital punishment. There are different types of homicide, which includes murder and manslaughter.
Homicide trends in the United States
As of 2023, California had the highest number of homicides, followed by Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. That same year, murders with one victim and one offender were the most common in the United States. Overall, the United States has had a much higher rate of homicide in the past years when compared to their neighbor, Canada.
