CHICAGO — For the first time in over a decade, Chicago is on pace to close the first half of a calendar year with fewer than 200 homicides, as 2025 marks the city’s steepest drop in violent crime in recent memory.
City data and law enforcement statistics show a 34% reduction in killings and a 40% drop in shootings compared to the same period in 2024, a shift that’s now being felt across many of Chicago’s most violence-stricken neighborhoods.
Targeted Policing and Community Funding Paying Off
Superintendent Larry Snelling credited the success to targeted enforcement in historic hot spots, explaining that the Chicago Police Department has focused its resources on areas with consistent trends of violence.
“If we’re going to be serious about saving people’s lives, then we need to look where people’s lives are being taken,” Snelling told the Chicago Tribune.
The city’s strategy has been backed by significant investments in grassroots violence intervention programs, including a $100 million commitment from the Government Alliance for Safe Communities.
Neighborhoods Like Englewood See Remarkable Progress
One of the most notable turnarounds occurred in Englewood, a community long plagued by gun violence. Murders in the 7th District are down 45%, according to CPD data.
Jason Perry, an outreach worker with Integrity and Fidelity NFP, said while the streets remain tense, the year had been noticeably quieter until a triple shooting in Ogden Park reignited tension. Despite that, his team remains focused on interrupting cycles of retaliation.
Andre Thomas, CEO of the organization, praised his staff for responding quickly and effectively:
“If we got the homicide rate down to 10, we’d be trying to end next year with five,” he said.
CPD Stats Show Progress Across Most of the South Side
As of mid-June, the South Side recorded 87 murders and 333 shootings, a sharp drop from 145 killings and 542 shootings in the same timeframe last year.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Garien Gatewood emphasized that this success is the result of collaboration between police, city officials, residents, and community organizations.
“There’s a lot of trauma there… and we need to be able to support them,” Gatewood noted.
But Not All Neighborhoods Are Seeing the Change
In contrast to the South Side’s improvements, Chicago’s West Side neighborhoods are still facing uphill battles. The Harrison District (11th) has recorded five more murders than at this point in 2024.
Ciara Allen, a resident of North Lawndale, is now trying to move her family after her 11-year-old son Izayah was shot while walking through Franklin Park. While his recovery has been swift, the trauma lingers.
“I’m not going to sit there on that block and raise my kids,” Allen said.
Other Crime Categories Also Declining
The drop in violence isn’t limited to gun-related crimes. CPD reports double-digit declines in:
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Robberies
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Aggravated batteries
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Burglaries
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Motor vehicle thefts
As of mid-year, CPD has made 17,500 arrests, a 9% increase from 2024. Officers have recovered nearly 5,400 illegal firearms and the department’s murder clearance rate stands at 81%.
At the same time, the Cook County Jail population has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. A larger share of detainees now face violent crime or weapons charges, a shift that Superintendent Snelling believes is helping curb repeat offenses.
“When we are arresting these violent offenders and holding them, it’s less likely that they get the opportunity to re-offend,” he said.
Mayor Johnson’s Goal Within Reach
With the current trend, the city is on track to meet Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ambitious goal of keeping the annual homicide total below 500.
Still, with July and August ahead — historically the most violent months — outreach workers like Perry and Thomas know their efforts must continue at full speed.
What Do You Think?
Has your neighborhood seen a change this year? Do you credit police efforts, community groups, or something else? Share your thoughts in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
