2017 numbers: Homicides down, infant deaths up

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The number of homicides in Milwaukee went down in 2017 compared to 2016 and the number of infant deaths went up.

According to Milwaukee Police, there were 119 homicides in Milwaukee in 2017. That number is down 20 from 142 homicides in 2016.

District 2 and 4 saw a slight increase in homicides from 2016. In District 2 the number of homicides went up four from 11 in 2016 to 15 in 2017. In District 4 the number of homicides went up by five from 19 in 2016 to 24 in 2017.

Districts 3 and 5 saw large decreases in homicides from 2016 to 2017. District 3 homicide rate went down ten from 31 in 2016 to 21 in  2017. In District 5 the number of homicides went down 18 from 43 in 2016 to 25 in 2017.

In a report from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, there were 45 infant deaths in Milwaukee in 2017 of which 25 were related to unsafe sleeping environments. That is an increase from 32 infant deaths in 2016 in which 13 were related to unsafe sleep environments.