Despite Violent Memorial Day Weekend, Chicago Police Say Homicides Remain Down in 2022


Video: Another deadly Memorial Day weekend is weighing heavily in the races for governor and Chicago mayor. Violence and guns among the topics for “Chicago Tonight’s” Spotlight Politics team of Paris Schutz, Heather Cherone, and guest panelist and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Tina Sfondeles (Produced by Alex Silets)


Despite a surge in shootings over the Memorial Day weekend, the number of homicides in Chicago through the first five months of 2022 remain below the pace from each of the last two years.

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According to new data from the Chicago Police Department, there have been 239 homicides and 971 shootings in the city this year through the end of May.

That homicide total marks a nearly 8% decline compared to the same time in 2021 and a 1% decline over the first five months of 2020, while citywide shootings are also down more than 15% this year over last, according to the CPD data.

The 60 homicides recorded in May 2022 alone were the fewest in that month since 2019, per CPD data.

There have been 1,184 people shot thus far this year, which is also down 14% compared to 2021, which closed as Chicago’s deadliest year since the 1990s.

At least 47 people were shot over the Memorial Day weekend, including nine people who were killed. Both those totals were well above the 2021 totals.

So far in 2022, police have recovered 4,664 illegal firearms — an average of more than 30 per day — including 404 assault weapons and 326 unserialized ghost guns. 

Chicago has also recorded 670 vehicular hijackings this year, and violent crime overall is up 4% over last year’s pace.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson[email protected] | (773) 509-5431


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