Shooting incidents in Chicago, Illinois, has been on the decline in the first two months of this year, according to new reports.
Homicides in the city have gone down 22 percent since last year and shooting incidents have decreased by 28 percent in the January and February, USA Today reports.
There were an estimated 650 homicides in 2017, and 762 homicides in 2016. If this downward trend continues, this year will be on track to be much lower than both.
In 2017, there were an estimated 399 shooting incidents and 101 homicides in the first two months. Data released by Chicago police showed that there have been 286 shooting incidents and 78 homicides in the first two months of 2018.
“The progress we have made over the last 12 months to reduce gun violence in Chicago could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of our police officers who carried out our data-driven, technology-led crime strategy,” said Superintendent Eddie Johnson. “Despite this progress, our work is not yet complete.”
President Donald Trump and other Republicans have criticized Democratic leaders in the state for what they call rampant gun violence in Chicago.
Shootings are an issue that has been consistently been dealt with in Chicago but other cities, like Baltimore, New Orleans, Detroit, Kansas City and Memphis have higher rates of homicides per capita.
Also, there's been a number of celebrities and public figures — Chance the Rapper and billionaire Ken Griffin are among the most notable — who have made it their mission to end gun violence and to provide opportunities to young Chicagoans.
Griffin donated $10 million toward efforts to reduce gun violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office announced this week, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.
“As a community, we are unified in our desire for Chicago to be a safer place to live and work,” Griffin said. “No child, anywhere, should be afraid to walk to school or play outside. A safer Chicago attracts more families and better jobs and provides a better quality of life for all.”
