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Murder Spike In Boston Blamed On Drugs

Murders in Boston are up almost 50 percent over last year.

Police Commissioner Edward Davis says the homicides since August mostly involve men with long criminal drug histories, and many of them are over 30 — older than most gang members.

"When we look at the motives contributing to each one of the homicides," Davis said, "it's not what we were seeing at the beginning of the year, which were retaliatory shootings as a result of gang feuds. These things are driven by the drug business, and money and territory."

Davis says an influx of convicted drug dealers, recently released from the prison, may have upset the market.

The department plans to step up narcotics investigations, Davis said.

This program aired on November 11, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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