Most 2020 Homicides So Far Due To Gun Violence: Medical Examiner

CHICAGO — With one month left in the year, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed more than 900 homicides in 2020. A majority of the homicides were due to gunshots wounds.

From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, the medical examiner recorded 902 homicides, 810 were due to gunshot wounds. Of the 902 homicides recorded between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 810 were attributed to gunshot wounds.

Males accounted for 806 of all the homicides in Cook County. More than 78 percent were committed against Blacks, more than 16 percent against Latinos, and approximately 5 percent against Whites.

Compared to last year, the medical examiner’s office handled 675 homicides. This is only the second time in almost a quarter century when the county has surpassed 900 homicides in a year. In 2016, the handled 921 homicides. In 1996, Cook County saw 959 homicides, in 1995 the county recorded 987 and in 1994 there were 1,141 homicides handled by the medical examiner.