Killings in Arizona jumped by about 16 percent last year.

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

PHOENIX - New statistics show that killings in Arizona jumped by about 16 percent last year despite a decrease nationwide.

The FBI's uniform crime report released Monday shows that there were 409 reported murders and non-negligent manslaughters in the state last year.

That's compared to 354 such crimes in 2009, a 15.5 percent increase.

Arizona cities that saw significantly more killings include , which had 35 in 2009, compared to 51 last year. That's a 46 percent increase.

Nationwide, the FBI reports that murders and non-negligent manslaughters fell by 4.2 percent last year. Violent crime overall dropped by 6 percent, marking the fourth straight year-to-year decline.

Property crime nationwide also was down, falling 2.7 percent.

In Arizona, violent crime overall fell by 3.1 percent, and property crime dropped by 3.7 percent.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/2011/09/19/201109...