By Mike Vitellaro
@redlineproject
Southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have the highest death rates compared to the other states. States like New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut remain at the low end of gun-related deaths.
Additionally, Illinois sits at the very middle of the distribution, with homicide numbers in Chicago steadily decreasing the last three years.
However, a weekend shooting of teenagers in Chicago’s Loop was a reminder that the issue still looms, despite the decreasing overall numbers.
On Nov. 22, seven teenagers ranging from 13 to 17 were shot in the Loop. It was a busy night in downtown as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was happening nearby.
The shooting occurred outside the Chicago Theatre, causing bystanders to run and take cover. A 14-year-old boy was killed and eight others were injured in the shooting.
This shooting highlights an ongoing issue in the city, as gun violence has continued to be a problem. Even though Chicago is in the middle of the gun deaths charts, this shows us how these issues are still prevalent all over the country.
The gun death by state chart shows where gun violence is most affected, while the Chicago Loop shooting focuses on the local level. They show how gun violence is an ongoing issue nationally and in our communities.
This graphic displays 2025 gun violence statistics in Chicago
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Mike Vitellaro talks about reporting and visualizing data for this story and others on gun violence in Chicago.