216 x 12 = 2592. The very somber numbers reveal that an average of seven people die a violent death each day in the Dominican Republic. Over the past seven months a total of 1,513 people have died as a result of robberies, fights, and “exchange of shots.” The numbers also show that 70 women have been killed and three military and Police personnel. Over 500 cases have been classified as being of “undetermined origin,” cases the authorities tend to identify as being tied to drugs and drug trafficking and sales.
The majority of the deaths were reported in Santo Domingo, Santiago and the National District.
Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito told Listin Diario reporters that the justice department was trying to reduce the number of violent deaths, and is assisting the Police and the courts as well as the forensic teams from the National Institute of Forensic Science.
The only provinces that had not reported exchanges of shots with the Police were Dajabon, Pedernales, Barahona, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Independencia, Salcedo and Sanchez Ramirez.
Most of these provinces are among the poorest in the Dominican Republic. In a curious note, the report showed that 73 people died a violent death in places of public entertainment where they were supposed to be having a good time.