On June 3rd, 2021 SLED Chief Mark Keel held a Press Conference releasing a preliminary report showing the increase in murder incidents in South Carolina.
In this preliminary report released by SLED it shows that the number of Murders have increased in South Carolina from 457 in 2019, to 571 in 2020. And that Aggravated Assaults increased by 9% in 2020.
“As I said last year, I am extremely concerned by the increasing amount of violence in our state
including the number of murders and assaults,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “I am particularly
troubled at the steady increase in the number of murders taking place. We have seen murders
increase 51% over the past five years in South Carolina. Gangs, drugs, and criminal’s access
to guns continue to play a significant role. In fact, according to the DEA, in 2020 more than
30,000 gangs operate on the streets of America with nearly all involved not only in distributing
drugs, but also in committing violent crimes. Yet given this alarming surge, it is very
disheartening to see so much effort and attention being directed to anti-public safety legislation
that puts criminals back on the street and makes our communities less safe.”
Keel spoke out for help from Communities to curb the issue of crimes in South Carolina. He went further to suggest that the 25% increase in Murders was tied to drug crimes increasing in the state. Keel also commented on the lack of a “hard line” in our legislative aspects pertaining to drug crimes.
The date used to compile these reports comes from Law Enforcement Agencies throughout South Carolina. A full report is expected out by the end of Summer 2021.