| Although the leading causes of child death are unintentional injuries, malignant neoplasms, and congenital anomalies, homicide is a leading cause of preventable child death in the United States.; This dissertation presents a comprehensive overview of the study of child homicide, as well as replicating and extending an earlier investigation by Chew, McCleary, Lew, and Wang (1999), using the largest national sample available at this time. Victim, offender, and situational risk factors of child homicide events were investigated. SPSS was used to explore the risk factor from the Mortality Detail Files (1968–1998), and the Supplemental Homicide Reports (1976–1999).; Results show the bi-modal age pattern described in smaller-sample investigations. Additionally, the victim is most likely a White, male child killed by a White, male offender, which mirrors the general population. At adolescence; peers become offenders more often, multiple offenders increase, and guns become the weapon of choice, probably reflecting an increase in gang participation. |
