Police: Homicides rise while illegal gun seizures fall

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say there have been about twice as many homicides and shootings so far this year as in the same period in 2015, but that the number of illegal guns seized has dropped.

The department has announced there were 95 homicides and more than 400 shooting incidents as of the end of February.

But the department has seized at least 110 fewer illegal guns than in the same period last year.

Along with a dramatic drop in the number of street stops made by officers, that total adds to evidence that the release of a video showing the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald — and the subsequent scrutiny it put the department under — has led to officers being less aggressive in efforts to combat crime.