I found a great little blog published by the LA Times. “Homicide Report” is described as:

“The Times’ inaugural effort to chronicle every homicide that occurs in Los Angeles County. The Homicide Report is continually updated; comprehensive lists of victims are posted weekly.”

Today is February 13th, the 44th day of 2007, and so far we only have 99 murders in Los Angeles County.

The wonderful thing about the way Americans kill each other: we don’t even care about religion or political power, the way some do in Iraq. We just destroy life for the heck of it.

Here is one of the 99 deceased cases:

Melissa Paul, a 16-year-old Latino girl, was shot in the back at 3222 Verdugo Road in Glassell Park and died at 8 p.m. Feb. 6.

The Franklin High School student was walking with two other teenagers when the Latino suspects rolled up in a car and asked their gang affiliation, then fired. Police arrived to find Paul wounded, her friends trying to help her. She died later at County-USC. Arrests were made late last week but charges have not been filed. LAPD Northeast detectives seek any leads or witnesses. Call (213) 847-4261.

Walking home from school. Sixteen years old.