Boarded buildings and bullet-ridden walls: Inside one of America's most dangerous cities where nearly everyone is a victim of crime
- Camden is the most dangerous city in New Jersey, where there are nearly 2,000 violent crimes recorded every year
- There have been a number of high-profile murders in the last two weeks, including a 25-year-old and twin brothers, 26
- Gordon Donovan photographed some of the US's most dangerous cities but thought Camden had worst reputation
These haunting images show the bullet-ridden walls and derelict buildings show the dark side of one of America's most dangerous neighborhoods.
Camden is the most dangerous city in New Jersey, where your chances of becoming a victim of crime are one in 13.
Bullet holes pictured here are evidence of the fact that there are nearly 2,000 violent crimes committed in this small city every year, and 57 of those are murders.
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These haunting images show the bullet-ridden walls and derelict buildings show the dark side of one of America's most dangerous neighborhoods
Bullet holes pictured here are evidence of the fact that there are nearly 2,000 violent crimes committed in this small city every year, and 57 of those are murders
Gordon Donovan's newly published photo series paints an eerie picture of the ghost-like town where violence and drug-use are rife.
Mr Donovan, who snapped the images on a police ride-along, said: 'I knew Camden wasn't a safe place and had just passed a few times.
Mr Donovan, who snapped the images on a police ride-along, said: 'I knew Camden wasn't a safe place and had just passed a few times
Statistics often disagree over which is the most dangerous city in the USA but there is rarely a list that doesn't include Detroit, which has been torn apart by gang violence
In the last few weeks alone, there have been a number of high-profile and bloody murders on the city's streets.
On Sunday, a 25-year-old man, Kashif Carmickel, was found lying in the street after being shot. He later died from his injuries, reports NJ.com.
Just two days earlier, on Friday, two brothers, Markice and Maurice Harper, both 26, were shot and killed in a brutal double homicide. Their murdered bodies were discovered inside a car by an innocent passer-by, reports ABC 6 Action News.
Gordon Donovan's newly published photo series paints an eerie picture of the ghost-like town where violence and drug-use are rife.
Mr Donovan, who snapped the images on a police ride-along, said: 'I knew Camden wasn't a safe place and had just passed a few times.'The officer wanted to show me some of the areas cleaned up. I asked to take me to the places he didn't want to go to when he got a call.
'It is dangerous - there aren't any bullet holes in the walls of my local deli in New York City.
'I wasn't really afraid, more exhilarated. I was more concerned about my camera equipment when we went into some buildings.'
With a population of 77,000 Camden, despite community renewal projects, remains the most violent city in the state.
The dilapidated buildings all over the borough are a symptom of the fact that nearly 40 per cent of people live below the poverty line.
The average income is just $13,385, well below the state and national average.
But Mr Donovan has been to many cities that claim to top the bill, but Camden is the worst and among the most rundown he has seen
Statistics often disagree over which is the most dangerous city in the USA but there is rarely a list that doesn't include Detroit, which has been torn apart by gang violence.
But Mr Donovan has been to many cities that claim to top the bill, but Camden is the worst he has seen.
He added: 'I've been to some other areas like Baltimore, Cleveland and Detroit to shoot but this area has the worst reputation by far.'
Disused offices have become 'shooting galleries' - places for heroin users to inject, while vacant homes harbor the homeless and acts as dumping ground for waste.
One photo shows an abandoned home with a make-shift letter box used by dealers to receive payment for illegal drugs.
Disused offices have become 'shooting galleries' - places for heroin users to inject, while vacant homes harbor the homeless and acts as dumping ground for waste
One photo shows an abandoned home with a make-shift letter box used by dealers to receive payment for illegal drugs
In another of the stark photos showing the level of deprivation in the neighborhood, only stray cats and graffiti line the streets
Many of the houses have been boarded up, as fed-up residents flee the deprivation and the high crime rates in the New Jersey city
In another only stray cats and graffiti line the streets.
Many of the houses have been boarded up, as fed-up residents flee the deprivation.
The keen photographer visited the notorious city with local law enforcement.
He added: 'I was unsure what the dangers were but I was with a police officer and it was daytime.
'The streets were pretty much empty and at night is when most of the action happens.
'The officer told me stories about squad cars being ransacked during investigations and at one point we stopped because a few panhandlers were approaching people at a traffic light.
'The police officer who took me was nostalgic about the area and enjoyed taking me out. He loved the area and wants to do right with it.'
The keen photographer was concerned about his camera equipment so he visited the notorious city with local law enforcement
The officer told him stories about squad cars being ransacked during investigations and at one point we stopped because a few panhandlers were approaching people at a traffic light
The police officer who took him on the trip knew about its problems but was nostalgic about the area and enjoyed taking him out. He loved the neighbourhood and wants to do right with it
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