The number of homicides in Galveston County declined in 2017 after having increased the year before. There were 17 confirmed homicides in the county in 2017, down from 23 in 2016.
The figures come from the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science, and include deaths classified as homicides and investigated by Galveston County law enforcement agencies.
Police have arrested or charged suspects in 10 of the cases. One suspect killed himself before being arrested.