A new study compares homicide rates across the state that involve young victims. One part of the south valley finds itself high on the list.
Tulare County has a small town feel. It's what drew Melissa Munoz and her family here a few years ago. Now the county is being recognized as one of the most violent places in the state. Munoz says, "It's sad. It scares me for my kids."
The Violence Policy Center released a new study. It compares homicides rates that involve victims between the ages of 10 and 24.
In 2010, 20 young people were killed in Tulare County. It's ranked as fourth in the state behind Monterey, Alameda and San Joaquin counties.
According to the study, more than half of the homicides in Tulare County were gang related. The Tulare Sheriff's Department says gang activity is becoming more common. In fact, gang violence killed more than 200 young people in California last year.
Merced, Fresno and Madera counties are also named in the top ten.
27 young adults were killed in Fresno last year. That's almost twice the number of victims in San Francisco.
Judy O'Bannon calls Visalia home. She understands violence isn't far from her back door. She'd like the county do more to prevent murders. Mean time she has a message for the people responsible. She says, "Why take an innocent bystander or a child and you know what I mean? It's not worth it. Not worth it at all."
TXT 24
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