Chicago homicides at lowest level in at least six years, police say

WGN Chicago
·1 min read
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Chicago homicides at lowest level in at least six years, police say

CHICAGO — The number of homicides in the city are at their lowest levels in at least six years, according to data released Friday by the Chicago Police Department.

The city recorded 37 homicides in April, a 30 percent drop from April of last year. Overall, police say homicides are down 12 percent so far this year.

Additionally, more of the homicides that are occurring are resulting in charges. Through April, police reported a “clearance rate” of more than 76 percent, the department’s highest since 2015.

Other progress reported by police:

  • Shootings are down 8 percent year-over-year, and there’s been a nearly 5 percent drop in the number of shooting victims

  • Robberies declined 4.5 percent from April 2023 and are down 1.4 percent so far in 2024

  • Thefts of vehicles are down 32 percent from April 2023 and down 27 percent so far this year

  • The 313 carjackings recorded so far this year is a 22 percent decline from last year

  • Crime on the Chicago Transit Authority’s buses are trains are down 6 percent

  • The number of illegal firearms taken off the street is pacing nearly 12 percent higher from this time last year.

Authorities noted that they ended the month saying goodbye to officer Luis Huesca, who was killed in the line of duty on April 21. Police said he is among the 29 officers either shot or shot at so far this year.

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