Deadly Chicago: January and February Hit Record Numbers

CHICAGO, IL - Chicago is coming off the deadliest January and February of the century.

The Chicago Police Department totals “43 murders, 165 shootings and 187 shooting victims” in February, much of which police attribute to gang violence.

“While the Chicago Police Department is taking action to keep our communities safe, gun violence driven primarily by gang conflicts remained at an unacceptable level in February,” Anthony Guglielmi, the department’s director of communications and affairs said in a statement Tuesday. “The level of violence is unacceptable and CPD continues to aggressively target those responsible, especially in neighborhoods where gang activity is most active.”

The 95 combined homicides from January and February is the most the city has seen since 1999, according to the Chicago Tribune. That year, there were also 95. 1997 was the last year with 100 or more homicides through two months. 101 were reported then.

Monthly crime stats also show a sharp increase in the number of people being shot in Chicago. At the end of February this year, the number is more than 450. Just last year, it was 217.