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A man gunned down Thursday on Chicago's West Side marked what police say is the city's 500th homicide of the year. It's a dubious distinction that hasn't occurred since 2008, when the city ended the year with 512 murders.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel called the total "an unfortunate and tragic milestone, which not only marks a needless loss of life but serves as a reminder of the damage that illegal guns and conflicts between gangs cause in our neighborhoods."
"The brave officers of the Chicago Police Department work tirelessly to continually reduce crime, but this is not just a law enforcement issue," Emanuel said in a statement.
Around noon Friday, News Affairs released a statement to clarify that Chicago's murder total remains at 499 because classification of one death investigation remains pending. They would not specify which death is pending.
Police released few details about the shooting in the 4900 block of West Augusta.
The man, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as 40-year-old Nathaniel T. Jackson, was shot around 9 p.m. and pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital at 12:18 a.m.
Tawfik Salman, owner of Noah Foods, said he heard four or five gunshots and dropped to the floor.
"It was pop pop pop pop," Salman said. "We seen a guy laying down in front of the store. I just went to the phone and called police."
According to police, homicides are up 17 percent from last year and shootings up 11 percent..
"It's sad you know. I guess this is part of the violence in Chicago," Salman said. "It's a sad thing that's going on."
At a peace dinner held Thursday, residents came together to talk about ways to end violence. Alderman Anthony Beale, who is running for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s old 2nd Congressional District seat, said Supt. Garry McCarthy needs to change strategies.
"His philosophy is not working," Beale said. "We need to put resources where the problems are, and then you will see crime drop across the city."
Chicago surpassed 2011's 435 murder total in October
Police said Chicago's 499th homicide victim was a man who died after he was shot at least four times – including in the face and chest – in a Gage Park neighborhood alley Wednesday night on the Southwest Side.
Frederico Martinez, of the 5400 block of South California Avenue, died from gunshot wounds he suffered near his home, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
Police said the 32-year-old Martinez was standing with a female in an alleyway down the block from his home when a light-colored pick-up truck approached and somebody inside opened fire.
Martinez was shot in the face, chest and both arms and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 10:41 p.m., authorities said.
Behind the troubling statistics, flashing lights and crime tape, communities throughout the city are searching for solutions.
"There's no magic spell that can end it. It's a matter of people and neighborhoods coming together and deciding that it's not going to happen," said neighbor Robert Grider.
Larry Pickens, who is running in the special election in the 2nd Congressional seat, offered a few suggestions Thursday: "Teaching our young people alternative dispute resolution, non-violent strategies for addressing conflict and getting guns off the street."
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how many of those 500 were innocent victims? I suspect many were criminals themselves and the more they kill each other the better. Strict gun laws doesn't seem to be having much of an impact on crazy, violent people getting guns.
Sorry "washington distruster", but murder is never justified. And even one innocent murder victim is too many. Law-abiders need to be given back their basic rights guaranteed to them by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
washington, my Illinois cop friend calls the scenario you describe as misdemeanor murder. One thug removing another thug so that there is one less thug. That should be a misdemeanor or considered a public service.
What about the little 11 year old white girl sitting on her front porch on a Sunday afternoon murdered in a drive by?
See folks...they may not break the record this year..... gun control DOES work!!!!
Time for ROBOCOP!
gun control and tax's at their finest.
When will the murderers in Chicago start respecting the gun laws?
The same Chicago where you cannot legally carry a handgun? Gun control doesn't stop people who intend to do evil, but merely leaves good, innocent people unarmed and unable to defend themselves.
Hey, where are all the liberals anti gun folks comments? Seems they don't want to touch this one as it shows how well the ban on guns works, for the criminals.
Hey scurnbag libtard pukes! How is that gun ban working for you?
You mother effen pukes!
Liberalas are OK with choice - killing babies, and taking your own life (euthanasia), but they will be damned if you get over 16 oz. sodas because they care about life so much.
This is another example of what hypocrisy and manipulation can do to a city and its people or America for that matter.
Wait until the money, food and services stop....I hope you Chicagoans and New Yorkers have prepared because they will be coming for you. At the least go camping for a weekend so you will know what a 5 star vacation will be in the future.
and Chicago has probably the toughest gun laws in the whole country.
How ironic is that???
Oh Yes!! See how gun control is working in that town!!! See you dumbass liberal gun control nuts, GUN CONTROL DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a drop in the bucket compared to Juarez, Mexico.
Another country with "Strict Gun Laws"
You got that right, but we need to learn from other people's mistakes.
hows your gun control working Rahm?
I've got full automatic pee shooters going on sale soon too.
there wasn't a sign posted "No weapons allowed" ,,,problem solved !!!
Where is the racist gang of Sharpton, Jesse & friends? Where is their outrage?
Interesting that, so far, the left hasn't chimed in on this issue. Maybe it's because they have no standing to say anything!!!
I said it before and I'll say it again......except for Chicago style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, you wouldn't get me anywhere NEAR that NigNog infected city!!
Larry Pickens, who is running in the special election in the 2nd Congressional seat, offered a few suggestions Thursday: "Teaching our young people alternative dispute resolution, non-violent strategies for addressing conflict and getting guns off the street."
Great idea Larry. Let me know how that works out for you, libtard.
How exactly do our strategy wielding young people convince the oppositional gun wielding thugs that their not targets while they're driving by and shooting? Pickens is truly an out of touch with reality libtard maroon!
hows your gun control working Rahm?
Anyone else notice the sound of crickets from the liberals?
That's because they have no argument. They know they are wrong on this one.
Yeah, well whooptidoo...Chicago and IL has the most repressive gun laws for law abiding legitimate gun owners yet Chicago has a record number of homicides. Which proves that bad criminals will get guns regardless. Let me repeat this because perhaps the leaders in Chicago have a hard time comprehending things, they may be slow mentally: bad criminals will get guns regardless.
Chicago is a worthless pit, very similar to Detroit or Philadelphia. With Mayor Rahmbo, things have only gotten worse for the Blow-hard city and unfortunately has had a horrible trickle down effect for the rest of the state of Illinois. I am glad I moved from that state 15 years ago. Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws on the books but it has not done a single thing to reduce the number of shootings. Illinois requires its residents to register with the state and obtain an FOID card and present it to purchase guns and ammo, but that doesn't stop criminals from committing felonies and murder. Murder is still illegal but it has not stopped a single one from happening. Chicago and unfortunately, Illinois are perfect examples of what happens to a city and a state when Democrats get their way. It is coming to the rest of this nation if we don't stand up and stop it.
Liberal's argument for Chicago violence is that the crimals just go to another state to buy their guns and that is why the gun laws in Chicago do not work. We must outlaw all guns in the entire US before gun laws will work.
Well, here's one for you liberals: Heroine, Cocaine, Crack, Marijuana(until a few years ago), were all outlawed throughout the entire US. No one uses drugs now do they? See the problem with your argument? Outlawing guns in all the US will be as effective as the current drug laws that we have (i.e. not at all). Please, before you go ripping up the Constitution to make people safe, make sure your solution will at least work first.
Thank you,
TC
Were number 1, were number 1, were number 1!
Per capita, I think Philly may still have you beat!
Chicago & Illinois have the harshest most restrictive gun control. Guess where there is a huge homicide-by gun problem? The whole nation should see Chicago as a test of strict gun control laws — WE TRIED IT AND IT DOESN"T WORK! Let the law abiding citizens have their guns - as of now ONLY THE CRIMINALS HAVE THEM and any further gun control laws are going to be ignored by the criminals as well.