How money gaps and crime rates shape police shootings in America

Researchers tracked fatal police shootings from 2015 to 2022 across more than 3, 000 U. S. counties. They found that out of every 10, 000 people, Black residents were 15 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than White residents. Hispanic residents faced about 2. 5 times higher risk than White residents, while the overall average risk for everyone was low but still troubling.The team used a statistical method called negative binomial regression to check how income inequality, violent crime rates, and racial makeup of counties connected to these shootings. They adjusted their calculations for factors like how crowded a county was, the average age of residents, and how crime varied year to year. The results showed that places with wider income gaps between rich and poor had more fatal police shootings, no matter the crime rate or population size. Violent crime did play a role, but income inequality remained the strongest predictor. Counties with higher poverty alongside extreme wealth saw more shootings overall. The data also hinted that racial composition of a county influenced the numbers, suggesting long-standing social divides might shape policing patterns.