Under the gun: Homicides down, shootings up in 2014

Chicago Police reported a 5 percent decrease in murders through the first six months of 2014 compared with the same period last year.

The 171 slaying were a 32 percent decrease from the unusually violent first half of 2012, and a more modest 8 percent decrease from the start of 2011, police said.

While citywide murder totals declined, the communities with the most killings in recent years continued to lead the city in slayings in the first half of 2014.

“We looked at these communities, and we’ve put additional resources into these communities,” said Robert Tracy, chief of crime control strategies for Chicago Police, who noted that the city also is providing social services to the areas in addition law enforcement.

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