Homicide and race in Erie County, New York.

Medical examiner records of homicides in Erie County, New York, in 1972-1984 were analyzed, comparing homicides of whites with homicides of blacks. Black victims were younger than white victims, had more alcohol in their blood, and were less often killed with bare hands. The killer of a black victim was more likely to be female and less likely to have killed in connection with another crime. This is interpreted to mean that a higher proportion of black homicides arose from personal disputes.