Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The number of North Carolina children who died by either homicide or suicide has more than doubled over the past decade, and a report released this week shows homicide was the leading cause of death among children from age 1 to 17 in 2020.

The state Child Fatality Task Force’s report said that in 2020, 92 children died as a result of homicide, making it the leading cause of death for that age group. It was the second-leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4, news outlets reported.

Of the total number of homicides, 13 children under the age of 1 died from homicide in 2020, according to the report. One of the 13 deaths involved a firearm.

The report defines a child as anyone under 18.

Also in 2020, suicide was the fourth leading cause of death for children with 56 deaths. Among children aged 10 to 14, it was the leading cause of death. Self-inflicted injuries resulted in almost 550 hospitalizations and more than 2,700 emergency department visits in the state in 2020, the report said.

The report also noted that suicidal behavior by high school students has been trending upward and is most pronounced among youth who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

Statewide, there were 152 deaths due to prematurity and low birth weight, while 146 were the result of congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities, the report said. According to the report, the infant mortality rate in North Carolina was 6.9 per 1,000 births, the eighth highest rate in the U.S.

According to the report, most causes of death among children in the state held relatively steady from 2011 through 2020, the most recent year for which figures are available.

In the report, the task force renews a call for North Carolina to increase funding for programs targeted at reducing child fatalities, including educating people about infant sleep safety, firearm safety and improving maternal and infant health, especially among minorities.

 

Related Stories
‹
UNC Chancellor Shares Updates on 'Carolina Across 100,' Off-Campus Initiatives
While classes start this week on campus, UNC is also working on several initiatives off of its campus to expand its footprint and influence.
Suicides and Homicides Among Young Americans Jumped Early in the Pandemic, Study Says
Written by MIKE STOBBE The homicide rate for older U.S. teenagers rose to its highest point in nearly 25 years during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the suicide rate for adults in their early 20s was the worst in more than 50 years, government researchers said Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report examined the homicide […]
More on $1 Billion for N. Carolina Mental Health Unveiled
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON A proposal on how North Carolina should spend $1 billion in one-time funds from the federal government to improve mental health care for children, adults and criminal offenders is taking shape with a bipartisan House measure filed on Tuesday. The legislation goes into detail on what to do with a large […]
2 Years After Hurricane Helene, Where Does Relief Fall Short in North Carolina? – On Air Today (September 29, 2026)
Public Policy Analyst Alex Campbell joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, September 29 shortly after the two-year mark of Hurricane Helene.
Trump Refers to Black Man From Racially Offensive 1988 Campaign Ad While Stumping in North Carolina
During a stop in North Carolina, Trump referenced one of the most controversial campaign advertisements that relied on racist tropes.
Postal Service Work To Comply With Trump’s Executive Order Is Rushed and Sloppy, a Whistleblower Contends
The U.S. Postal Service is poised to launch a hastily built, error-riddled computer system that could jeopardize the process of mail voting.
Longtime Chatham County Educator Wins $10 Million Lottery Prize
The North Carolina Education Lottery office revealed that Jean Johnson, who teaches in Chatham County, is the winner of a $10 million prize.
Theodore Nollert on North Carolina's Budget Corrections Bill and Its Process – On Air Today (August 26, 2026)
Theodore Nollert — the directory of policy for Carolina Forward and a Chapel Hill Town Council member — joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, August 26.
UNC Health Expands, Rebrands Venture Capital Efforts of Emerging Tech
The statewide healthcare system announced Rex Health Ventures platform is now UNC Health Ventures and will use $125 million to invest in emerging health tech companies.
Iran War Renews Concerns About the Lasting Toll of Traumatic Brain Injuries to US Troops
The lasting effects of traumatic brain injuries are raising fresh concerns about the toll of the Iran war on American troops who are suffering those wounds during a conflict without a clear end.
›