AN average of five persons were killed per day, last week, with three dozen murders reported to the police.

According to crime statistics released by the Constabulary Communication Network yesterday, 36 people were killed between last Monday through to Sunday – nine more than the number of killings that took place the week before. The murder tally is now creeping close to the 500 mark, with 464 persons killed since the start of the year.

Despite the increased killings, major crimes fell about eight per cent, according to CCN – down to 287 from the 310 cases reported last week. Police say they have cleared up 175 of these major crimes.

Of the 36 murders committed last week, cops say they have cleared up 15, or just over 41 per cent.

The gun was used to commit 27 of the murders while five others were stabbed to death. Three persons were killed in domestic disputes while another person was murdered during a robbery, the police said.

Over the same period, the police were involved in six fatal shootings, recovered 11 illegal guns and 82 rounds of ammunition.

Thirty-eight shootings, 15 sexual offenses, 65 breaches of the dangerous drugs act, 49 robberies and 26 cases of felonious wounding occurred last week, according to the CCN.

Last weekend, 10 persons, including a police officer, were murdered, while three men were shot dead by the cops.

The identity of one of the murder victims has not yet been established, police say, while the others have been identified as :

. Constable Anthony Dixon of the Mobile Reserve;

. Andrew Cummings, 35, stock clerk of 2 North Greater Portmore;

. Lenford Bissini, 67, of Duhaney Pen, St Thomas;

. Dorian Allen, 19, also called “Sly”, of Montego Bay;

. Akiene Thompson, 14, student of Norman Manley High School;

. Shakena Allen, 17, of Graham Street, Kingston;

. Garfield Morrison, 25, of Somerton, St James;

. Silvanos Campbell, 52, of Amity Hall, St James; and

. Nadine Clarke, Font Hill, St Thomas.