Chicago Now Murder Capital of U.S.
According to new crime statistics by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago had more homicides in 2012 than any other city in the country.
There were 500 murders in Chicago last year, the FBI said, surpassing New York City, which had 419. In 2011, there were 515 homicides in New York, compared with the 431 in Chicago.
Guns were used in the vast majority of slayings in the United States last year. According to the FBI data, 69.3 percent involved a firearm.
Overall, violent crime — homicides and aggravated assaults — was up less than 1 percent in 2012, according to FBI data.
Cities with the most homicides in 2012, from the FBI:
1. Chicago | 500
2. New York | 419
3. Detroit | 386
4. Philadelphia | 331
5. Los Angeles | 299
6. Baltimore | 219
7. Houston | 217
8. New Orleans | 193
9. Dallas | 154
10. Memphis | 133
11. Oakland | 126
12. Phoenix | 124
13. St. Louis | 113
14. Kansas City | 105
15. Indianapolis | 101
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