Cook County Saw Record Number Of Gun-Related Deaths In 2020

COOK COUNTY, IL – There were a record number of gun-related deaths in Cook County in 2020, according to the county Medical Examiner's Office.

The 875 gun-related homicides in 2020 broke the previous record of 838 set in 1994.

In 2020, the Medical Examiner's Office handled 970 homicides – a more than 40 percent increase over 2019, which saw 675 homicides.

According to the Medical Examiner's Office, Blacks were the victims of 78 percent of homicides and Latinos accounted for more than 16 percent of homicide deaths. Seventy deaths were under age 18, 22 of which were under the age of 10.

In addition to an increase in homicide deaths, the county also saw a record number of opioid overdose deaths in 2020, with a confirmed 1,599 deaths. In addition, the Medical Examiner's Office anticipates approximately 450-500 of its pending cases will be due to opioid toxicity. In 2019, Cook County recorded 1,277 opioid overdose deaths.