WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Drive-by shootings are up sharply in Wichita so far this year, and Police Chief Gordon Ramsay believes boredom stemming from the coronavirus lockdown is partly to blame.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Ramsay spoke in a Facebook video Tuesday. Ramsay says drive-by shootings are up 82% compared to the five-year average. There were 36 drive-by shootings between Jan. 1 and May 3, compared with the five-year average of 19.8.
Ramsay said that many of the shootings involved young people, and he noted that with recreational centers closed and many restaurants closed, many youths have a lot of idle time. He also cited an uptick in crimes like vandalism and domestic assault.
Homicides also are up. Wichita has had 18 killings so far this year, 58% above the five-year average of 11.4.
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