In the context of murder cases, the statement "About 20 percent of all murders involve" typically refers to the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator. Here's how the options align with common statistics:
1. **Acquaintances:** This refers to people who are known to each other but may not have a close relationship. Examples could include coworkers, classmates, or friends of friends. Acquaintance murders make up a significant portion of homicide cases.
2. **Intimate partners:** This category includes spouses, ex-spouses, romantic partners, and individuals in intimate relationships. Intimate partner violence is a serious issue, and murders involving intimate partners are unfortunately not uncommon.
3. **Strangers:** Murders committed by strangers, where there is no prior relationship between the victim and the perpetrator, also occur but are relatively less frequent compared to acquaintance or intimate partner murders.
4. **Neighbors:** While murders involving neighbors do happen, they are less common compared to the other categories mentioned. Conflicts between neighbors can escalate to violence, but such cases typically form a smaller percentage of overall murder statistics.
Overall, in many studies and crime reports, acquaintance murders and intimate partner murders tend to be more prevalent than murders involving strangers or neighbors. The exact percentages can vary based on location and specific research findings, but understanding these relationships can provide insights into the dynamics of different types of homicides.
