KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Five killings in Kansas City, Missouri, during Christmas week brought the 2021 total to 156, making it the city’s second-deadliest year on record.

Only last year was worse, when Kansas City had 182 homicides This year topped the 155 killings that occurred in 2017.

The entire Kansas City metropolitan area, including the Kansas suburbs, has seen 215 homicides in 2021.

Mayor Quinton Lucas, on Twitter, said the city will “never stop trying” to reduce the number of killings, calling it Kansas City’s “greatest challenge.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640631562726.png" alt="Police at the scene of a homicide investigation Dec. 23-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of a homicide investigation Dec. 23-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Five killings in Kansas City, Missouri, during Christmas week brought the 2021 total to 156, making it the city’s second-deadliest year on record.Only last year was worse, when Kansas City had 182 homicides This year topped the 155 killings that occurred in 2017.The entire Kansas City metropolitan area, including the Kansas suburbs, has seen 215 homicides in 2021.Mayor Quinton Lucas, on Twitter, said the city will “never stop trying” to reduce the number of killings, calling it Kansas City’s “greatest challenge.”

5 more killings: 2021 second-deadliest year on record in KC