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| Chicago murder capital |
The city registered more murders than any other U.S. community in 2012, surpassing New York for the first time, despite having a population a third of the size.
There were 500 murders in Chicago last year, up from 431 in 2011, according to crime statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
During the same 12 months, murders in New York fell from 515 to 419.
Most violent crime in Chicago is focused on predominantly African-American and deprived neighbourhoods of the city's south side, where street gangs wage violent turf wars and there is a proliferation of stolen guns.
Later Thursday, Chicago authorities reported 11 people, including a threeyear-old child, were injured when a gunman opened fire on people in a park located in the city's Back of the Yards neighbourhood.
Chicago Fire Department officials reported the child was in critical condition.
Two other victims also were in critical condition, officials said.
Officer Amina Greer said the shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday.
According to Greer, at least 10 ambulances responded to the scene, taking the victim to several different hospitals. Authorities say no one had been taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
