Fewest Chicago murders for first 9 months of the year since 1965

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police released new crime statistics overnight, saying the city closed the first nine months of the year with the fewest murders to date in nearly 50 years.

There have been 22 fewer homicides, 78 more shootings and 114 more shooting victims from January through September of 2014 compared to the first three quarters of 2013.

That's a 7 percent decrease in murders, a 5 percent increase in shooting incidents and a 6 percent increase in shooting victims. Overall crime was down 14 percent in the first nine months of 2014.

The end of September 2014 marked eight consecutive quarters of murder reduction, police said. In the last two years, 129 fewer homicides occurred. That's a 14 percent reduction in the murder rate for that time period.

They attribute this change to putting more officers on the street, taking proactive steps to intervene in gang conflicts, building stronger relationships with community leaders and a re-evaluation of management roles in the last two years.

"We will continue to implement our strategy, making adjustments and adding new elements along the way, and no one will rest until everyone enjoys the same sense of safety," McCarthy said. "But until there are better state and federal laws in place to slow the flood of illegal guns into our communities, we will continue to face an uphill battle."