An update to how numbers are displayed on the Homicide Report

In an effort to clarify the data collected, presented and maintained by the Homicide Report, we've made a change to how the total numbers of homicides are displayed.

The map at the top of the site's homepage shows only homicides that have a location provided by the L.A. County coroner's office. Previously, the number below the filters list showed the number of homicides that had addresses (i.e., mappable points) in our database. This figure was labeled "Showing," in reference to the points visible on the map above, but it was not the actual number of homicides in the database.

For example, if a reader filtered for all homicides in 2014, previously the number 542 would be displayed below the map and on top of the blog roll.

We think that could be misread to imply that there were 542 homicides in Los Angeles County in 2014; but there are currently 568 homicides for 2014 in the database -- 26 of the killings have no location provided by the coroner's office. The numbers you see today reflect this change.

The table below outlines how the overall numbers displayed by the counter have changed.

Since the neighborhood views contain only homicides that have locations, these counts will reflect no change.

How can so many homicides not have a location?

Many times, these are cases involving found bodies, in which remains may have been dumped after death. Other cases may involve people who take themselves to hospitals with fatal wounds. In these types of cases, it can be difficult or impossible to determine where a homicide occurred.

The Times is constantly making improvements to the Homicide Report's database to reflect the best information available. You can read more about how data are collected and displayed on the About Page.

-- Armand Emamdjomeh