Chicago murder rate down
 

Chicago police have confiscated 3500 illegal guns so far this year.


CHICAGO -- Chicago police say the city has seen a significant drop in
the number of homicides and shootings during the first six months of
2013.

The department said Monday that there have been 184 homicides this
year, 29 percent fewer than the 260 homicides during the same period
in 2012.

The number is the lowest for the time period since 1965, police say.
Chicago saw 500 homicides total in 2012.

Police also said there have been 843 shootings in the first six months
of the year, down 25 percent from the 1,117 shootings during the same
time period last year.

The department said Chicago officers have seized more than 3,500
illegal guns so far this year.