Indianapolis sees 2014 homicide spike

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis could close 2014 with one of the highest homicides counts in nearly a decade.

The city's Department of Public Safety reports 135 criminal homicides this year. The count doesn't include several so-called "justifiable homicides" like police-involved shootings.

WISH-TV (http://bit.ly/1EDcJzl) reports the murder rate has been on the rise since 2010 and there were 125 homicides last year.

The number has topped 135 murders twice in recent years. In 2006, it was 153 and in 1998 there were 162 killings.

Deputy Public Safety Director Valerie Washington says the trend is "troubling" and attributes it to a combination of factors, like an increase in heroin use and several multiple-victim homicides.

The rise comes as other major U.S. cities, including Chicago, have seen recently seen a drop in homicides.

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Information from: WISH-TV, http://www.wishtv.com/