The Chicago Police Department has recovered 5,000 illegal guns so far this year, even as murders continue to outpace 2015.
The firearm was recovered by police on Sunday in a vacant lot in Chicago’s West Garfield Park neighborhood.
Standing in the vacant lot, CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson said officers responded to shots being fired Sunday afternoon. Police arrested a juvenile who is a known gang member. The teen allegedly tossed the gun during the police chase.
Despite the seizures, the city has seen 381 homicides so far in 2016, compared to 264 murders through July 31, 2015.
Chicago recorded 65 murders during July, the most seen during the month since 2006. There were 71 homicides in the city in June and 66 in the previous month.
Johnson said the department has done a good job recovering guns and making arrests, “But we absolutely drop the ball when it comes to holding people accountable.”
“These repeat gun offenders are telling us they don’t want to play by the same rules,” he said. “They’re telling us that.”
Johnson said legislation that would keep repeat offenders behind bars longer will make a difference.
Nearby, residents sat on their stoops listening to Johnson. Some questioned why there isn’t a significant decrease in shooting incidents if so many guns are recovered.
“If you got 5,000 guns, and we have all this killing out here, I just can’t believe,” said Sherrod Cobbins, Sr. “That’s a lot of guns. Five thousand is a large number.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
