More deaths from fentanyl overdoses than gun violence in 2019, medical examiner's statistics show

COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- New statistics from the Cook County Medical Examiner show more people died from fentanyl overdoses than gun violence in 2019.

Numbers show 789 people overdosed on the powerful opioid in Cook County, compared to 580 gun homicides.

Drug overdoses accounted for nearly a third of all deaths in Cook County last year.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office preliminary statistics for 2019:

Total Medical Examiner cases: 6262

Total homicides: 669 (Chicago: 527)

Gun homicides: 580 (Chicago: 468)

Fentanyl toxicity: 789

Heroin toxicity: 547

Cocaine toxicity: 545

Indigent cremations: 468

Note: There are 527 cases pending cause and manner of death. These figures will change based on the results of testing and investigation in pending cases.