CLEVELAND — Violent crime in Cleveland has been top of mind for residents as well as city leaders in the aftermath of Sunday morning's mass shooting that injured nine people on West 6th Street.
While city leaders were able to proudly announce Tuesday's arrest of Jaylon Jennings in Lorain for the mass shooting, there remains the reality of increased crime in Cleveland in 2023 as compared to the previous year.
In some cases, the numbers are alarming.
According to data provided to 3News by the Cleveland Division of Police, the number of homicides in the city as of July 8 is up by 30% compared to last year. There have been 96 overall homicides in Cleveland, with 85 of them involving a firearm. At this point in 2022, there were 74 total homicides with 65 of them involving a firearm.
The number of felonious assaults with a firearm is up 12% this year. There have been 708 incidents as of July 8, compared to 630 last year.
Fueled by the nationwide problem of Kia and Hyundai break-ins, Cleveland has seen a staggering increase in the number of motor vehicle grand thefts so far in 2023. As of July 8, there have been 3,480 cars stolen in the city, compared to 1,753 from last year, a nearly 99% increase.
"(It's) Very frustrating, very sad and angry about the level of violence we are seeing in our city," Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb told 3News' Russ Mitchell earlier this week. "I know we're better than this as a people. I know we're better than this as a community."
Despite the uptick, Bibb believes that his administration's crime policies are not failing. "We have a gun problem and solving violent crime is a complex, nuanced issue. We are doing everything we can at City Hall and will continue to do everything we can to get violent criminals off our streets. But we have more work to do and everyone in our community must step up."
You can watch Russ Mitchell's interview with Mayor Justin Bibb and Police Chief Wayne Drummond below:
The recent violence is again spotlighting Cleveland's problems with hiring and keeping police officers. On Tuesday, Bibb and Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Det. Jeff Follmer announced that they have agreed to meet for what is being called the city's first "Public Safety Summit."
Both sides, along with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 President Capt. Jim O'Malley, will begin meeting face-to-face this Wednesday in preparation for the actual summit on Aug. 23. Officials say the gathering will center around "Police Officer Retention, Recruitment, and Deployment."