When Do Homicides Happen?

When we ask about when homicides happen, we aren’t asking about the circumstances around murder. Murders happen for all sorts of reasons, and we can’t pretend to understand what goes on in the minds and motivations of killers. What we mean instead is, “When, temporally, do homicides happen? What time of the day? What days of the week? What months in particular?” Here’s what we learned.

The Deadliest Hours

For the record, murders can and do happen at any time of day. Studies have confirmed that more crimes happen percentage-wide throughout the day, with spikes at midnight, noon, and 5 p.m. However, studies have also confirmed that more violent crimes, including murder, tend to happen at night and in the wee hours of the morning.

Between midnight and 3 a.m., more murders are committed in the United States than at any other times. Maybe double check the locks on your doors at night.

The Worst Day of the Week

You might be surprised to learn that certain days of the week are more murderous than others. You’ll also be doubly surprised to learn it differs between states!

Overall, Sunday is the deadliest day of the week across the United States, with 20 states where Sunday is the day with the most killings. These include New York, Wyoming, California, and Indiana. Saturday is a distant second with nine states.

For all that everyone gripes about it, Monday is actually the day with the fewest murders.

The Murder Month (and Season)

Summer is a popular season… for murders, as it turns out. Violent crime rates tend to spike in the summer months, with June frequently being cited as the most violent month.

It’s a little unclear why this is. One theory is that with longer, sunnier hours, people are just out and about more often and thus at more risk. Another belief states that rising heat correlates with rising tempers and stress, which prompts people to lash out violently.

Maybe staying inside with the air conditioning turned on is the best solution after all!

References: When Do Homicides Usually Happen? A Breakdown By Month, Week, And Hour | When People Die | When Does Crime Occur Most: An In-depth Guide | What’s the deadliest day of the week in your state? | The Increase of Criminal Justice Work in September