Chicago Reaches 500 Homicides in 2012
A West Englewood teen was shot Christmas day, as Chicago grew closer to 500 homicides for 2012.
The city of Chicago on Wednesday, logged its 500th homicide --the first time the city has reached that threshold since 2008, according to a recently published analysis of preliminary police data.
Joshua Davis, 18, of the 7200 block of South Bell Avenue, was shot multiple times after getting into a fight with several men, shortly after 11:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of West 69th Street, Chicago police News Affairs Officer, Jose Estrada said.
No one was in custody as of Wednesday morning according to police.
"He was killed because he was wearing a hoodie and getting off the bus," the victim's sister, Selina Davis, 24, said in an interview about the incident. "He was a great boy. He was only a baby."
Tio Hardiman, director of CeaseFire, a violence prevention organization said of the continued gun violence, "Unfortunately, young people feel it is ok to shoot each other and they are not worried about being caught. As for the retaliatory shootings, these are young people who feel that nobody cares and they're taking things into their own hands because they don't see anybody being arrested for these shootings."
Hardiman said the mentality that leads to these crimes is that there is no real value for a black (person's) life.
As gun violence continued across the city, more than a dozen other people reportedly were wounded, including an 11-year-old boy who suffered a graze wound to his arm at about 7 p.m., in the 6200 block of South Michigan Avenue in Washington Park on Christmas, police said.
The boy reportedly was walking with a group when he noticed he had been shot. He was taken to Comer Children's Hospital, 5841 South Maryland Ave., and later released.
Two other men were shot at about 1:15 p.m. in the 0-100 block of North Lockwood Avenue in the South Austin neighborhood following an argument the day after Christmas. As the two 21-year-olds sat inside a car, an unknown offender walked up and fired a gun multiple times, striking one of them in the neck and leg and the other person in the knee, according to published reports.
The men were taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park and to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, 1969 W. Ogden Ave.
A 22-year-old woman was shot in the face on Christmas day at about 9:40 p.m. after arguing with her boyfriend in the 1900 block of South Harding Street in North Lawndale. She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
The number of homicides in Chicago had been steadily decreasing since 2008, when 513 killings were recorded. Before 2008, the city had not surpassed 500 homicides since 2003, when more than 600 homicides were logged.
Homicides listed below, are as of Dec. 26.
*Ashburn had 25 homicides since Jan., 2007 with eight this year
*Auburn Gresham had 104 homicides since Jan., 2007, 16 this year
*Austin had 201 homicides since Jan., 2007, 35 this year
*Avalon Park had 14 homicides since Jan., 2007, none this year
*Beverly had 3 homicides since Jan., 2007, one this year
*Calumet Heights had 19 homicides since Jan., 2007, six this year
*Chatham had 70 homicides since Jan., 2007, 12 this year
*Chicago Lawn had 102 homicides since Jan., 2007, 22 this year
*The Douglas area had 12 homicide since 2007, none this year
*East Garfield had 60 homicides since 2007, six this year
*The East Side had 8 since 2007, none this year
*Englewood had 122 homicides since 2007, with 19 this year
*Gage Park had 43 homicides since 2007, five this year
*Grand Boulevard had 49 homicides, seven this year
*Greater Grand Crossing, 135 homicides, 23 this year
*Humboldt Park, had 140 homicides since 2007 with 17 this year
*Hyde Park had six homicides since 2007 with one this year
*Kenwood had 12 homicides since 2007, three this year
*Near Westside had 59 homicides since 2007, 15 this year
*Pullman community had nine homicides since 2007 with four this year
*Roseland had 112 homicides since 2007, 16 this year
*Washington Park had 53 homicides since 2007, 12 this year
*West Garfield had 87 homicides since 2007, three this year
*West Pullman had 64 homicides since 2007, 13 this year
*Wood Lawn had 61 homicides since 2007, 20 this year
By Deborah Bayliss
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