Chicago police announced Thursday that officers have recovered more than 100 "assault-style" weapons so far this year.
Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson announced the milestone at a news conference at department headquarters, revealing that officers recovered a total of 106 assault-style weapons by Thursday, in comparison to 79 total in 2017.
Officials displayed some of the firearms seized across the city, weapons with more firepower than handguns, some that were even modified to have a higher capacity.
Police said the weapons were not turned in, but rather all recovered from search warrants, traffic stops and other encounters.
Johnson said on average, officers have seized one illegal firearm nearly every hour this year.
He added that while statistics show that violence may be down in the city in comparison to 2016 and 2017, there is still more work to be done.
"For some time now, we've seen the devastating effects that illegal guns have caused in some of our communities," Johnson said. "Especially assault rifles, which are meant for a battlefield, not the streets of Chicago."
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Authorities also announced Thursday that the Chicago Police Department would hold a gun buy-back event, allowing Chicagoans to turn in a gun they no longer want in exchange for $100. That event was scheduled for June 2 at the New Life Covenant Church on Chicago's West Side.
