Chicago police are investigating the first reported murder of 2009.
A 47-year-old Chicago man was shot in the head and killed after an early morning dispute on the city's West Side.
David Garrett was dead at the scene, the Cook County medical examiner's office said.
No one is in custody in connection with Thursday's killing.
Preliminary data shows 508 homicides were reported in 2008. That's up about 15 percent from 2007 when Chicago Police Department statistics show 442 homicides.
Chicago hasn't had more than 500 homicides since 2003.
Members of CeaseFire, a popular anti-violence program, are vowing to help lower the number of homicides in 2009.
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CeaseFire spokesman Tio Hardiman says youth outreach as well as work with community leaders is planned.
