BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor
Chicago averaged nearly a murder per day in the first month of the new year.
Police reported 28 murders in January 2015, a 40 percent increase compared to the 20 last January, when the city had the fewest January murders since 1964.
While January slayings were up compared to last year, they were significantly down compared to the 40 killings in 2013 and the 38 in 2012, according to police data.
The North Lawndale and South Shore communities each had three slayings last month, the most of any community.
The number of January shooting victims also increased compared to last year.
Police reported 144 shooting victims in 121 shooting incidents last month, a 36 percent increase compared to the 106 shooting victims in January 2014.
Much like murders, the number of shooting victims was down compared to the 190 people shot in January 2013, 167 people shot in January 2012 and 161 people shot in January 2011, according to police data.
"By partnering closely with residents and community leaders, putting more officers on the street in high crime areas and proactively intervening in gang conflicts, together we have made significant progress in reducing crime over the past two years -- but there is clearly more to be done," police Supt. Garry McCarthy said in a statement.