Chicago Shootings Increase After Years of Declines

Superintendent cites gang conflicts and random violence as factors in first-quarter uptick

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:24pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a spent shell casing on a dark surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the gritty reality of gun violence in Chicago.A recent wave of gun violence in Chicago has city leaders and anti-violence groups searching for solutions to curb the troubling trend.Chicago Today

After four consecutive years of steep drops in gun violence, shootings in Chicago ticked up in the first quarter of 2026. The city recorded 105 murders through the first week of April, up slightly from the 98 killings seen in the same time period in 2025, according to city violence data. The first three months of the year saw disparate trends in violence within CPD's five patrol areas, with a mixed bag of increases and further drops.

Why it matters

The increase in violence comes after years of progress in reducing shootings and homicides in Chicago. The city had seen a steady decline in gun violence since 2022, making the recent uptick a concerning reversal of that trend. The rise in violence also raises questions about the effectiveness of the city's community violence intervention programs and the impact of federal funding cuts to anti-violence organizations.

The details

The citywide uptick is largely due to an increase in both murders and nonfatal shootings in CPD's Area 1, which covers the city's South Side north of 79th Street. The area saw 114 shootings and 32 murders through April 5 — 25% and 52% increases, respectively — according to police data. Outside Area 1, CPD's four other patrol areas have collectively seen a 10% decrease in killings in 2026. Superintendent Larry Snelling noted that about one-third of all killings so far this year have occurred indoors, with some categorized as 'domestic' while others appeared 'random.'

  • Through the first week of April 2026, Chicago recorded 105 murders.
  • In the same time period in 2025, there were 98 killings.
  • The first three months of 2026 saw disparate trends in violence within CPD's five patrol areas.

The players

Larry Snelling

Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

Brandon Johnson

Mayor of Chicago.

Bob Jackson

CEO of the anti-violence group Ceasefire in Roseland.

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What they’re saying

“We really have to keep a higher focus on gun recoveries and getting guns off the street.”

— Larry Snelling, Superintendent

“Closing out 2025 with the fewest homicides in 60 years is a remarkable testament to the collaboration that is in this room. We know that community violence intervention is not this theory that people pontificate, but it's proven to work. It saves lives and interrupts cycles of harm and creates pathways to healing.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor

“Since the cuts, so many organizations have reduced their workers. As the numbers decrease, you have fewer people on the streets doing the work. Now, we're seeing the violence begin to tick up.”

— Bob Jackson, CEO, Ceasefire in Roseland

What’s next

CPD is planning to implement a study's recommendations to fill hundreds of positions with civilians, allowing sworn officers to be reassigned to street work in an effort to address the rise in violence.

The takeaway

The increase in Chicago shootings after years of declines highlights the ongoing challenge of reducing gun violence in the city. While community violence intervention programs have proven effective, funding cuts have limited their reach, and the city must continue to explore innovative strategies to address the complex factors driving the recent uptick in violence.