Detroit murder toll rises slightly to 379

But homicides declined 20% in last 6 months of 2009

Charlie LeDuff and George Hunter / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Murders in Michigan's largest city increased slightly last year, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by Detroit Police, although the numbers show that homicides dropped dramatically in the second half of 2009.
There were 379 homicides in Detroit last year, up from 375 in 2008. But from July to December last year, there were 179 -- a 20 percent decline from the same period in 2008.
Police officials attribute the drop to a change in the way homicides are investigated, more police on the street and the use of computer-driven data to target crime hot spots.
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