Homicide in Houston

Stephen Shames

Matrix

America is getting more violent and dangerous. Drugs and the availability of powerful automatic handguns brought a virtual homicide epidemic to America's large cities. Ther American murder rate is up again in 1991 after breaking records in 1990. A good number of the victims are innocent children, killed by random gunfire. Houston, a sprawling city in the heart of Texas, was number four in 1990 with 568 murders-up 24 percent from the previous year. There were 39 murders during the 20 days I was in Houston last summer. Although Houston is located in the 'wild' west, it is a typical American city-with typical American problems. Homicide is one of them. Suspect in the murder of Paul Broussard is taken into jail after arrest. 10 youths went to a gay area and killed with a 2x4 fitted with a nail on July 4, 1991 at 3,20 a.m.

Stephen Shames, "Homicide in Houston," in POYi Archive, Item #20285, http://archive.poy.org/items/show/20285 (accessed November 23, 2024).