Putting the faces on Chicago homicide rate
In 2012, Chicago has seen 509 murders. While not nearly as high as the 1990s rates, it's still a shockingly large number.
But here's the thing. It's a number. It's such a large number that it's easy to lose track of what it represents. 509 people died last year. Real people. They come from all across Chicago. Some are as young as 8. Some are as old as 60. Not all of them were exactly innocent, but even the hardened criminals on that list had loved ones. Every number represents a loss that can never be quite filled.
And what's striking is that how many people on that list were shot by accident. A bullet missed and kept going, hitting someone who was just minding their business.
DNAinfo Chicago, a new New York based online news venture, decided to put it all in perspective. They created a timeline that lists every homicide and every victim, listing as much info as possible.
Here is the link.
But here's the thing. It's a number. It's such a large number that it's easy to lose track of what it represents. 509 people died last year. Real people. They come from all across Chicago. Some are as young as 8. Some are as old as 60. Not all of them were exactly innocent, but even the hardened criminals on that list had loved ones. Every number represents a loss that can never be quite filled.
And what's striking is that how many people on that list were shot by accident. A bullet missed and kept going, hitting someone who was just minding their business.
DNAinfo Chicago, a new New York based online news venture, decided to put it all in perspective. They created a timeline that lists every homicide and every victim, listing as much info as possible.
Here is the link.