January Murders Cut By Half Over Last Year

Chicago saw 20 murders last month compared to 40 in January 2013

Some good news on the crime front: The number of January homicides in Chicago was half the number in the same month last year.

According to police, Chicago saw 20 homicides last month, compared to 40 in January 2013 and 37 in January 2012.

As January was one of the coldest and snowiest months in recent years, weather may have played a factor in keeping the murder count low. However, Chicago Police spokesman Adam Collins told the Chicago Sun-Times weather was only one factor.

Nevertheless, murder by gun remains the most common method of killing in Chicago. Eighteen of the 20 January murders were shootings, with the other two being stabbings.

The Sun-Times reports three of the city’s 77 community areas had multiple murders in January, with Chicago Lawn seeing five and South Lawndale and Chatham seeing more than one apiece.

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