Ryan Smith, a 32-year-old barber, had seen a drug-related homicide and agreed to testify.

The number of deaths by drug overdose has soared, and drug-related homicides have pushed murder rates to record levels in cities across the country.

Murder, fueled by gang- and drug-related homicides, peaked in 1990 with 152 killings.

Instead of drug-related homicides on the street, the officers were trying to think about a new version of the unthinkable: explosions in the subway.

Rather, he said, this case "bears all the earmarks of a drug-related homicide."

In 1977, there was not a single drug-related homicide in Rochester, he said.

But Frederick Cooke, the city's chief attorney, said the bill might not slow the growth of drug-related homicides.

A lot of the drug-related homicides are not happening.

Police officials say they expect the number to surpass 280 this year, and attribute much of the rise to drug-related homicides.

By one estimate, we have 10,000 drug-related homicides a year.