Spike In Homicide Rates Of African American Males

Boston has seen a dramatic increase in homicides involving young black males.

A Northeastern University study said the number of African American males between the ages of 14 and 24 who committed homicide went up by 78 percent between 2000 and 2007.

Study author, James Fox, said nationally, the higher numbers come as overall homicides are trending down.

"In Boston in the past seven years, we've seen actually a decline in the number of white kids who have been involved in a homicide, but a large increase in the number of black kids," Fox said. "And even though the homicide trends in the city of Boston have been level of past couple years, let's not get fooled into thinking that our problems aren't there."

Boston also ranks sixth in the nation for cities with the largest spikes in homicides amongst African American males.