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April 20, 2000 |
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Dave Cruz/The Arizona Republic Neighbors gather across the street from the Peoria Yacht Club, where two people were killed and three wounded by a lone gunman. These people were awaiting word on friends and other neighbors. |
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Although it is extremely rare for anyone over 50 to be involved in a shooting spree, it may become more common in the future. Only one in 100,000 people over 50 committed a murder in 1998, according to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. That was actually down from three in 100,000 from 1976. Still, the shooting Wednesday in a Peoria retirement community is bound to send shock waves through communities of seniors, experts on aging say. "People are going to feel unsafe," said Elvera Anselmo, elder affairs program director for the Attorney General's Office. "It goes straight to the roots of our stability." But she stressed that it is too early to say that it is a trend. Only 4.5 per 1,000 people over 65 are victims of violent crimes, according to 1997 statistics, down from previous years. By comparison, the number of homicides involving 18- to 24-year olds increased from 22 per 100,000 to 30 per 100,000, according to 1998 statistics. But changing demographics and growth patterns mean there could be an increase in shocking events like this, Valley psychologists and experts on aging said. "We may see an increase in these cases in retirement communities because of the sheer number of people entering retirement age," forensic psychiatrist Steven Pitt said. Among those are elders with emotional problems, he added. "The jury is still out on what kinds of problems will follow these numbers of people," Pitt said. "As much as we like to think retirement is playing 18 rounds of golf, the reality is that with increased age, there are a variety of other stressors and conditions." Because acts of violence typically are committed by people in their teens and 20s, that is the population studied most. Arizona's elder population is expected to double in 20 years, and most who move here choose retirement communities that have a reputation for safety. But some speculate that the Valley's sprawling growth puts such communities in the path of violence. "Retirement communities used to be miles away from other parts of town," Anne Lindeman of the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging said. "As civilization has encroached on the area's retirement communities, they are more susceptible to the same kind of violence that goes on in other communities." Although there is a copycat phenomenon in school violence, experts on aging did not link Wednesday's shooting with a 56-year-old Michigan, Ken Miller, who opened fire in a senior citizen apartment house on Tuesday. He started shooting after being called to a meeting due to neighbors' complaints. "Those communities have rules to live there that many seniors think violate their liberties," Laraine Stewart of the Maricopa County Area Agency on Aging said. Copyright 2000, Arizona Central
Related articles • 1. Violence begets violence (4/22/2000) • 2. Heroes stop rampage (4/20/2000) • 3. Suspect known in neighborhood for bad temper (4/20/2000) • 4. Violence mars community's quiet lifestyle (4/20/2000) • 5. Violence by seniors likely to escalate (4/20/2000) • 6. Good folks, nice neighbors become violence victims (4/20/2000) • 7. Gunman told victims he was getting even (4/20/2000) • 8. Home foreclosure racket causing violence (4/20/2000) • 9. Complex's shooting puts homeowners groups in spotlight (4/20/2000) • 10.. 12 millions dollars for faulty buildings (4/15/2000) (Association lawyer Curtis Ekmark) • 11. Owners groups - ogres or godsends? (4/15/200)
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The American Homeowners Resource Center P. O. Box 97 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693 Telephone: (949) 366-2125 Website: http://www.ahrc.com Email: ahrc@ahrc.com © 1992 - 2000, AHRC News Services |
