Report: Chicago's year off to deadliest start in decades

CHICAGO --Through Wednesday, Chicago has had its most violent first quarter in a year since 1999,according to a Chicago Tribune analysis.

The paper reports that as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, homicides in the first three months of this year had jumped more than 71 percent from the same period last year, to 135 total.

"Shootings have jumped by comparable numbers as well. As of Wednesday, at least 727 people had been shot in Chicago so far this year, a 73 percent rise from 422 a year earlier," according to the paper.

Last year, shootings and homicides also jumped by more than double digits from the year before.

The city is currently on pace to top 500 homicides for the second time since 2008.