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Not long ago, ninety percent of homicides were committed…

“Not long ago, ninety percent of homicides were committed by people who knew their victims. Now as many as thirty percent involved people who didn’t know each other. Once a crime of intimacy, homicide was becoming as random as death by lightning.” quote by Dean Koontz
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““Not long ago, ninety percent of homicides were committed by people who knew their victims. Now as many as thirty percent involved people who didn’t know each other. Once a crime of intimacy, homicide was becoming as random as death by lightning.””

Dean Koontz

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Violence is shifting from personal, known relationships to more random, stranger‑on‑stranger incidents, reflecting societal changes in trust and safety.

In simple terms: Homicides are becoming less personal and more random.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address broader safety concerns.

Themes

violence trust societal change

Mood

concerned reflective

Type

analytical observational

When to use this quote

  • community policing
  • public awareness campaigns
  • urban planning
  • mental health outreach

Key Concepts

randomness intimacy social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this shift affect community trust?
  • What measures can reduce random violence?
A Different Perspective

The data may be outdated or region‑specific, limiting its universal relevance.

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