Homicides Down But Not For CPS Students

By Samantha Abernethy in News on May 9, 2009 9:30PM

Chicago Police reported Friday that there have been 108 murders in Chicago between January and April, a 19.4 percent drop from last year, which saw 134 murders during the same time frame. They have also recovered 421 more firearms and 49 more assault weapons than during this period last year. Total violent crime is down 2.8 percent overall, and property crime is down 9.6 percent. Police Superintendent Jody Weis attributes the decline to new crime reduction strategies. "With the summer fast approaching," Weis said in a press release from the police department, "we will look closely at the tactics which have made the streets safer and engage the community to help us continue in this direction."

However, Chicago Public Schools students are not experiencing the same decline in violence. Last week the toll for the 2008-2009 school year rose to 36. During the 2007-2008 school year, there were 27 students killed; 31 during the 2006-2007 school year.