While Johnson and Governor Pritzker have downplayed crime in Chicago, a White House press release provided statistics contradicting that narrative. The data showed that for 13 consecutive years, Chicago recorded the most murders of any U.S. city, and for seven consecutive years, it had the highest murder rate among cities with over one million residents.
In 2024, Chicago’s per capita murder rate was three times higher than Los Angeles and nearly five times higher than New York City, surpassing rates in cities such as Islamabad and Delhi. Out of nearly 148,000 reported crimes this year, only 16.2% led to arrests, and more illegal guns are recovered in Chicago than in New York City and Los Angeles combined. Vehicle thefts have also more than doubled since 2021, and discrepancies in homicide reporting have drawn additional scrutiny.
Residents voiced frustration with local safety measures. One woman cited a shooting near a senior facility injuring five people, questioning police response. A pub owner who experienced a robbery criticized Mayor Johnson for focusing on other city matters instead of neighborhood safety. City Alderman Brian Hopkins and local business owners acknowledged the increasing crime, describing neighborhoods that were once peaceful as now unsafe and dangerous.
The data and firsthand accounts underscore the city’s ongoing struggle with violent crime, fueling debate over whether federal intervention, including potential National Guard deployment, is necessary.
