Chicago continues to make headlines in unfavorable ways. According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, thus far in 2016, over 1k people have been shot in the city. The pace is exceeding the peak numbers experienced in the ’90s. The total amount of shootings stands at 1,008 as of Wednesday and included a 16-year-old boy, who was shot in the leg at Altgeld Gardens housing complex on the outskirts of the city.
Chicago has been in the spotlight consistently since the start of the year with regards to contract talks with the Chicago Teachers Union, police shootings and this consistent rash of shootings that plague the city. This current amount is pacing to outdo 2015 numbers. In 2015, there were nearly 3k total shootings in Chicago. The Chicago Police Department’s CompStat data through April 17 show shootings are up 67 percent compared to this time in 2015.
When one actually sees the numbers, the data proves to be extremely staggering. According to year-to-date information compiled by heyjackass.com, 153 people have been shot and killed, 874 have been shot and wounded, the total number shot has been 1,027 and the total amount of homicides is 175. New York City is much larger than Chicago; however, NYC is reporting 246 people shot year to date. Chicago’s numbers beat New York and Los Angeles’ numbers combined.
According to a report by fivethirtyeight.com, gun violence has spiked and arrests have declined. Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Eddie Johnson as the new interim police chief. Johnson has his work cut out for him and has yet to deliver some type of solution that will help curb the violence.
Fear continues to rise with the temperatures. Recently, a young man was killed in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood while he filmed a music video. Black lives are dropping everyday; it must stop. Let’s hope things get better before they get worse.
