Puerto Rico Poised to Surpass Homicide Record

The island has matched a 1994 record for homicides.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Police in Puerto Rico say the island has matched a 1994 record for homicides with the killing of three people in separate incidents overnight.

A police statement issued Wednesday says the shooting of a 39-year-old man in the town of Humacao brought the year's total to 995. That's about 150 more than all of last year. The other deaths overnight were a teenager and a 25-year-old man, both in the capital.

Puerto Rico has struggled in recent years with violent crime fueled by the island's drug trade. The island of 4 million people has tried a number of strategies, including replacing its police chief and enlisting the help of federal authorities to solve violent crimes.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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