Chicago’s murder rate soars 72% in 2016; shootings up more than 88%

CHICAGO — Murders in the nation’s third-largest city are up about 72%, while shootings have surged more than 88% in the first three months of 2016 compared with the same period last year, according to data released Friday by the Chicago Police Department.

Police said the disturbing rise in violence is driven by gangs and  mostly contained to a handful of pockets on the city’s South and West sides.  read