BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago
Chicago Police reported one less murder and three fewer shootings last month compared to April 2014.
While April violence remained relatively unchanged, a surge in killings in January and March has led to an 18 percent increase in murders through the first four months of the year. Murders had been up nearly 30 percent through the first quarter of the year.
In 2015, police have reported 115 murders, and the Cook County medical examiner's office, which counts killings different, ruled 120 Chicago deaths a homicide, including one person fatally shot by police.
Police reported 34 murders last month, which occurred in 28 of Chicago's 77 communities. South Shore had the most April slayings with three.
Austin has the most killings this year with seven, while Roseland, South Shore and West Englewood each have had six.
Much like killings, the city saw a slight decrease in shootings and shooting victims.
The 196 shootings last month was a 2 percent decrease from April 2014, and the 230 shooting victims was a 14 percent decrease from April 2014.
So far this year, 642 people have been wounded in 556 shootings, a 23 percent increase in shootings from last year. Shootings had been up 42 percent through the first quarter of the year.
Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy has been vocal about getting illegal guns off the street. This year, officers have recovered more than 1,500 illegal guns, a 22 percent increase from 2014.
"Through our plan, based on community policing and partnerships with residents, we have made significant progress in reducing crime over the past few years, yet we remain challenged by lax laws that make it far too easy for dangerous criminals to access and use illegal guns," McCarthy said in a statement.
Police reported a five percent reduction in overall crimes compared to the first four months of 2014 and a 26 percent decrease from 2013.
"We will continue building on our community policing philosophy, putting more officers in high crime areas, intervening in gang conflicts, and fostering stronger relationships with the communities we serve," McCarthy said.