The number of homicides in New Brunswick fell last year, but more of them were gang-related.
Statistics Canada released its latest report Monday looking at homicides across Canada in 2021.
Police services reported a nearly four per cent increase in homicides, with a total of 788 last year.
Here in New Brunswick, there were 11 homicides last year, down from 14 the previous year.
Two of those deaths were in the Moncton region and one was in the Saint John area.
While the number of homicides fell in our province, we saw more gang-related deaths, according to the report.
StatCan said there were two gang-related homicides in New Brunswick in 2021, compared to none the year before. One of those deaths was in the Moncton region.
Across the country, there were 184 gang-related homicides in 2021 (up 33 from the year before), accounting for nearly one-quarter of all homicides.
Firearms remain the most common weapon used to perpetrate homicides, according to the report.
Two in five homicides resulted from victims being shot while stabbing represented 32 per cent and beating 17 per cent of homicides. Almost half of the firearm-related homicides were identified as gang-related.
Firearms were used in six of New Brunswick’s 11 homicides in 2021, according to StatCan. That is compared to seven of 14 homicides the previous year.
You can find the full report by clicking here.
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