Murders On The Rise In Stockton

Stockton Police officers were called out on three homicides in the past week. The common factor in all three: gangs and guns.

Stockton Police Officer Joe Silva says at the rate homicides are occurring, the number of murders could likely overtake last year’s total.

"So far this year we have investigated 17 homicides compared to nine at the same time last year," he says.

Silva says half the homicides this year are gang-related and Operation Ceasefire is in effect to saturate neighborhoods with police patrols to stop retaliatory shootings. 

"And that’s been our primary objective over the last several years is going after these gang members who are using guns as a way of committing their crimes," he says.

Stockton’s highest homicide count was in 2012 when 71 murders occurred.