ABSTRACT
Traditionally, the gang homicide trend is related to youths and young adult homicide. There is one practical matter to settle before comparing the circumstances of Latino homicides. The population in many Latino communities expanded while violent crime fell. Still, whatever the explanation for increased homicides in some racial or ethnic groups, in rare instances the rate of Latino incidents varied. In the absence of data to substantiate claims, rhetoric fills the void and the Latino killer stereotype persists, even in an era of declining homicides. But rhetoric is not always reality nor does it always resemble fact. Moreover, comparison points are necessary to make informed comments on the level and extent of crime among and within groups. To a large extent, Latino homicide also varies by motivation and local context. At the very least, city-specific circumstances were powerful forces in explaining the shifting lethal activity among Latinos, which in a few isolated instances approached high-rate levels.
