Chicago police numbers show shootings, murders down in September
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Crime numbers released by Chicago police Saturday show murders in the month of September were down from the previous year.
There were 59 murders last month, down from 63 in 2015, police said. There were 358 total victims of gun violence in September.
One of those shootings involved a bullet through the window of a high school bus in the 4300-block of West Jackson Boulevard on Friday afternoon. The driver suffered a graze wound to the head, but is expected to be ok.
The shooting took place in the 4300-block of West Jackson Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. Thirty-two high school students were on the bus at the time, returning from a work-study program in downtown Chicago.
"Our prayers go out to the driver who was hurt. None of our students was hurt, thank God. This is the first time we've had an incident like this," said Temple Payne, principal of Christ the King Jesuit College Prep.
Police said they've also increased the number of arrests made and illegal guns seized. Throughout the month, Superintendent Eddie Johnson said he had plans to add about a thousand officers to the force, to add equipment and enhance training.
Despite the dip in September, 2016 is still expected to be the most deadly year in Chicago in decades, with more than 540 murdered.
Police said the vast majority of the crimes are being committed by people on their strategic target list, which includes gang members and convicted felons. Police also said the crimes are consolidated in just a few neighborhoods on the South and West sides.
