Gwinnett County homicide rate rises in 2012

LAWRENCEVILLE - One of Georgia's largest counties saw a spike a homicides in 2012 after four consecutive years of decline.

Records from the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's Office say the county last year saw a total of 41 homicides, including officer-involved shootings and other "justified killings" such as those in self-defense.

The Gwinnett Daily Post reports that 2012's homicide number is a significant increase from the 2011 total of 28.

Chief Forensic Investigator Ted Bailey says the 2012 total ties the mark for the second-most homicides in any year in Gwinnett County's history.