Jim Young/Reuters
The city of Chicago ended one of the most violent years in its history over the weekend, with a staggering 762 homicides. Compared to 485 reported homicides in 2015, the outgoing year saw the biggest increase in 60 years. The homicide death toll for 2016 is not only more than that of New York and Los Angeles combined, but also the highest number Chicago has seen in two decades. As the debate over gun control in the city continues, data released Sunday by the Chicago Police Department showed that 2016 also saw a surge in shootings, with 1,100 more than the previous year. The new statistics come as authorities seek to combat the spike in violence, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel announcing last year that 1,000 more officers would be added to the force and youth programs would be rolled out to try and deter young men from picking up guns. Complicating matters, however, is a wave of anger at police over recent police shootings, one of which saw a white officer shoot an unarmed teenager more than a dozen times. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a news conference Sunday that many criminals now feel like they have nothing to lose. “In Chicago, we just don't have a deterrent to pick up a gun," he said. "Any time a guy stealing a loaf of bread spends more time pre-trial in jail than a gun offender, something is wrong.”