Chicago Reports Highest Homicide Rate in January since 2000

Chicago, the third largest city in the United States, recorded the highest rate of homicides since 2000 for the month of January.

The police department stated that the 51 cases, which they described as "unacceptable," were due to an increase in gang-related activities and retaliations.

"It's the new way of taunting, challenging other gangs," Interim Superintendent John Escalante said to reporters reported by USA TODAY. "It's the modern way of gang graffiti."

According to the statistics, 51 is the highest number to be recorded in this month in 16 years. In January 2015 and January 2014, the number of homicides, respectively, was 29 and 20. On top of the increase in homicide cases, the city has also seen a spike in shooting incidents with a total of around 292, which is more than two times the number recorded last January.

"Both figures represent unacceptable increases from 2015 and were driven primarily by gang conflicts and retaliatory violence," Chicago PD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in an email to CBS Local. "While we have much more work to do, the entire Chicago Police Department is determined to keep every Chicagoan safe. We will continue to work tirelessly on ways to stop violence, and restore accountability and trust in communities throughout the city."

With the increase in murders, the Chicago PD will continue to face public backlash. The department has been put under intense public scrutiny after the video of a white officer fatally shooting a black teenager, Laquan McDonald, 16 times was released. The police have stated that the increase in homicides is not because policemen are being less aggressive after the McDonald case.

Based on the numbers for January, the city is on pace to surpass 600 murders for the entire 2016. The last time that Chicago recorded more than 600 murders dates back to 2003.

"The violence is not gonna end. It's getting worse," 51-year-old Gwendolyn Holiday, who lost her son due to a shooting, said reported by the Chicago Tribune. "Every day when you turn the news on somebody's child, son, father, brother has lost their lives for no reason. It's senseless to me. It makes no sense. None."

The department says it will be enforcing plans to address gang violence.