Denver homicides hit 10-year high due to domestic violence

DENVER (AP) -- A number of domestic-violence deaths in 2016 pushed the number of homicides in Denver to a 10-year high.

The Denver Post reports that 56 people were killed in 2016, with 11 of those deaths attributed to domestic violence. Another six people were killing shootings by Denver police. In 2015, 50 people were killed in Denver, with another seven shot by police officers.

Despite the higher homicide numbers, Denver police say gang-related killings have dropped significantly and officers were able to solve more cases than in previous years.

The Denver Police Department has solved 38 of the 56 homicides reported in 2016.