But the homicide count has leveled off in many major cities, including Memphis, since the record highs of the early 1990s. However, in recent years, more cases have remained unsolved by year's end, and there are more cases where the suspected killer did not know his or her victim. That compares to an 80 percent or better solve rate in the early 1990s. A growing percentage of homicides is now committed by strangers. Many of those deaths involve drug dealing and organized street gangs or both.
Witnesses are less likely to come forward because of fear.
Also, the motives within closed groups like gangs are not apparent to those outside the group, so a particular suspect with a direct motive is not readily apparent. In the '70s and '80s, we'd make the scene and get an identity on the suspect. With the advent of gangs, people sometimes don't want to get involved. Often they were there when police arrived and were arrested. If they didn't identify themselves to police, someone else would.