Local News

With Rising Temps Comes Rising Crime Rates

Nicole Johnson, Live 5 News

Four shootings and four murders, all happening in the past five days. Experts say when the temperatures heat up so does the crime.

"Tension is building, tempers will flare, it's hot. Everybody needs a release," said Frank Morea.

That tension was seen in Downtown Charleston. Police say a man was shot at a house on Line Street, and the victim ran about half a block before collapsing.

"We find a black male lying in sidewalk near the Presidential Market. Don't have a suspect yet. Don't have a motive, but it's under investigation," said Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis.

Police say he was taken to the hospital. The downtown Charleston shooting is just one of several incidents happening over the past week.

An Orangeburg deputy was shot to death. The accused killer's wife then ran her husband over and killed him. A state trooper was shot during a traffic stop. A man was murdered at his West Ashley apartment. And another man was found murdered in a storage shed in North Charleston.

Frank Morea has a background in criminal justice and he served as the Crime Stoppers chairman. He talks about a rise in crimes with a rise in temperatures.

"As the temperatures get warmer, as the daylight hours increase, we're going to see a lot more outdoor related crimes. Sort of confrontational, fights, arguments, and sometimes they do get violent," said Morea. "We do see a correlation between weather and incidents of crime."

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