Sorry, but I’m going to have to disagree with my journalistic superiors on this one.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, there’s a Real Clear Politics article making the rounds the last couple days that landed on the AJC’s “Most Popular” page this morning, which ranks Atlanta as the nation’s second least safe city, just behind Memphis, TN.

Someone please stop the madness!

It may be an unpopular position amongst a general population who feel less safe than they did a year ago (due in large part to the rash of highly public crimes), to argue against anything that validates our fear…but someone has to do it.

First of all, this ranking is crap for the same reason that so many other city rankings are crap – because every city’s limits and annexation laws are different.  Some city limits span their entire metropolitan area, while others – like Atlanta – are centered only around the city’s core and represent a flippin’ 10th of the metro-area population.  So when “Real Muddy Rankings” reports that they’ve crunched some numbers based on FBI data (which warns against doing such things) and RANKED city crime based on % of their general population, we MUST immediately call BS, or note the disparity and perhaps dig deeper into the data. NOT report on it like it’s a credible study!

Let me be clear, I have no problem with comparing Atlanta’s 2008 to 2007 stats and reporting that property crime is up while violent crime is down.  However, none of the articles I’ve seen actually give priority to this reliable data.  Yes, they note that the ranking is “disputed”, but only after they’ve colored the entire article with the “second least safe” headline.  And then to add insult to injury, they treat violent crime and property crime as equals.  Like they are at all comparable!  Am I the only one that would rather be mugged than stabbed?

Yes, crime is something Atlanta needs to get a better hold of.  Recent cutbacks in law enforcement certainly won’t help improve anything.  But I ask the news media to be more responsible about reporting this data and resist easy, sensationalized headlines.

UPDATE 2: Suspect’s name is Jonathon Redding.  Fox5 has a mugshot.

UPDATE: Fox 5 reports a 17 year-old has been arrested in connection with the Henderson murder.  (h/t: Andisheh via Twitter)

The AJC reports that Atlanta police will make an announcement at 2pm.

WABE reminded me on my ride in this morning that tonight is the night to dine out at participating Atlanta metro area restaurants and bars to help contribute to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta reward fund being offered in connection to the Standard shooting of John Henderson.

Over 70 Atlanta area restaurants are currently participating.  (See full list here)  Each are encouraged to donate 20% of profits from the evening to the fund, however any amount is gladly accepted.

According to a map on the Atlantans Together Against Crime website, these four Decatur restaurants are among them:

• Raging Burrito
• Twain’s
• Universal Joint
• Steinbecks

Tacqueria de Sol is also on the list, though the Decatur location isn’t mapped.  Can anyone confirm/deny the Decatur Tacqueria location?

Creative Loafing’s Scott Henry tries to get clarification from the commander of the Atlanta Police Department homicide unit, Lt. Keith Meadows, about why the police and press incorrectly reported that the Standard’s John Henderson was shot “execution-style” and other unsettling, inaccurate facts.

Ultimately, Henry concludes the rampant misinformation “was brought about by a combination of vague, inconclusive information offered by the police and a competitive news environment in which reporters race to make their stories as definitive as possible – often before all the facts are nailed down.”

Henry goes into much greater detail with Meadows in the piece, but be forewarned its pretty graphic.

Though the police and press are certainly to blame in in this misinformation fiasco, it seems like the unlikelihood of the actual event  – Henderson being shot inadvertently by a stray bullet as the suspects departed – is also key to the quick spread of the inaccurate, easier to believe story about “execution”.

In light of all of our recent conversations about the safety and security aspects of owning/carrying a gun after the death of the Standard’s John Henderson, this new report about a potential victim killing his assailant across from the Graveyard Tavern in East Atlanta is frighteningly timely.