Report: Spfld is #12 most violent city

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Not even five full months into 2011, and the city of Springfield, Massachusetts has already recorded eight murders. While the nation has seen less violent crime, Springfield has gone in the other direction.

According to FBI statistics, Springfield had 1354 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2010; 84 rapes per 100,000 people. That's more than double the national average.

Springfield comes in at number 12 on the a Business Insider list of cities with most murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults. The rankings were based on FBI statistics.

Springfield resident Michelle Cahillane told 22News that the number wasn't high enough; "I'm surprised it's not in the top five, actually. Honestly I don't feel comfortable walking around the streets by myself. I never walk around after 8 o'clock."

Lifelong Springfield resident Junior Torres told 22News Springfield is getting a bum rap; "It's not the city. It's the people that live here, people carrying guns, carrying weapons around. You know the city ain't bad."

Overall, The FBI's 2010 statistics show a 5.5% drop in violent crimes from 2009. Springfield wasn't even in the top 25 last year.

Flint, Michigan is ranked the most violent city in America with a 10% increase in violent crime.