The Crime-is-down Narrative in Chicago Is Taking a Beating

Even if you consider that The Sun Times isn't using the best data, things are not good in the Windy City. After violent weekend, Chicago closing in on 200 homicides just four months into the year

Five people were killed and at least 40 others were wounded in shootings across the city this weekend. To date this year, at least 1,040 people have been shot in Chicago and there have been at least 195 homicides.

Violent crime has risen 4% since the start of the year, according to a report released by the Chicago Police Department over the weekend. The violent crime rate in April was up 20% compared to April of last year.

Now the very best statistics on crime in Chicago come from HeyJackass!. Though I'm not sure where The Sun Times is getting their data, Chicago PD doesn't include crimes that occur on the insterstate highways through the city, because those are under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Police. They have also been known to cook the books on what is and what is not a criminal homicide. HeyJackass! has the number of homicides in Chicago as 206 (as of the end of May 2nd), with 192 shot-and-killed, and 893 shot-and-wounded.

And The Sun Times does throw the "Crime-is-down" crowd a bone.

Carjackings, however, have fallen by 55% since their peak in the winter, according to the department’s statistics.

Considering that last year was a record-setting year for carjacking, I should hope they've managed to do something.

The first 2 days of May were insane. HeyJackass! has the details on a Mostly Peaceful Weekend

Summer-like temps means summer-like stupid but there’s still nothing to see here.

Final Peaceful Tally: 8 killed, 42 wounded

In 2014, on the same weekend of the year, there were 5 people killed and 19 wounded. A 100% increase in the total number of people shot in 7 years.