SANDAG study shows gang-related homicides down in county

SAN DIEGO COUNTY - Gang-related homicides in the San Diego region dropped from 2007 and 2009, according to a study released today by the San Diego Association of Governments.

In cases where motive could be clearly established, the number of gang-related homicides dropped from 40 percent in 2007 to 31 percent in 2008 to 26 percent last year, according to SANDAG's 'San Diego Violent Crime Victims and Suspects in 2009' report.

"Due to changes in data collection and difficulties in discerning motive, it is difficult to compare homicide statistics across years," said Cynthia Burke, SANDAG's directo...