By comparison, a recent report says 22 people were killed in the entire country of Mexico over the holiday. However, Mexico's murders are not all related to gun violence.
Chicago police claim that most of the shootings during Christmas are related to criminal gang activity. According to police, shooters were mostly members of rival gangs who have carried out crimes in certain areas of the city for many years.
"These were deliberate and planned shootings by one gang against another," said Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. "They were targeted knowing fully well that individuals would be at the homes of family and friends celebrating the holidays. This was followed by several acts of retaliation."
Innocent people were injured in Chicago shootings, including two teenage girls, aged 13 and 14, who were waiting for their father with a two-year old infant. Two shooters attacked when their father approached in a van, hitting the girls, and one was hospitalized in critical condition. The police believe that the attackers targeted the father, reportedly a gang member.
These killings push Chicago's murder count for this year, which has already been reported being the highest in 20 years, further, up to 770 people killed and 4,300 wounded by gunfire alone. By comparison, last year this figure was 492 dead and 2,989 wounded.
The news comes just four days after Sputnik reported that the city had a four-day period of no reported gunfire, a record for the year, with next in line being just 81 hours of peace, in April.
