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The Officials Murder Count for 2012: 506 in Chicago

By DNAinfo Staff on January 1, 2013 7:09pm

 Chicago had 506 murders in 2012, according to the official police tally. Supt. Garry McCarthy said the city's murder problem stems from guns and gangs.
Chicago had 506 murders in 2012, according to the official police tally. Supt. Garry McCarthy said the city's murder problem stems from guns and gangs.
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DNAinfo/Geoff Ziezulewicz

CHICAGO – Chicago ended 2012 with 506 murders, according to police.

The official year-end tally is the most since 2008, which notched 513 murders. It is more than a 16 percent increase from 2011, which saw 433 homicides.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy told DNAinfo Chicago that Chicago's murder problem stems from a staggering amount of illegal guns - and their use in the hands of gang members.

McCarthy also pointed out that the city's most recent numbers are a far cry from those of the early '90s, which averaged more than 900 murders per year.

The official murder count by police does not include justified officer-involved shootings or reckless homicide such as vehicle accidents, said Chicago police spokeswoman Melissa Stratton.

The violent trend continued on the first day of 2013 with two more murders: one man was fatally shot in West Town and another shot to death in Grand Boulevard.