Bret Baier confronts Pritzker with information displaying Chicago tops homicide fee

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Fox Information anchor Bret Baier confronted Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ill. , over Chicago’s homicide fee on Wednesday.

Throughout an unique Fox Information Channel interview, Baier and Pritzker clashed over the homicide fee in his metropolis. The anchor introduced out analysis information to contest the governor’s on-air declare that Chicago isn’t even within the 30 American cities with the best homicide charges.

"Effectively, right here’s a map –– most populous U.S. cities: 17.47 per 100,000 inhabitants. Chicago is primary over Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego," Baier informed Pritzker.

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Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Unwell., and Fox Information anchor Bret Baier conflict over Chicago's murder information. (Breaking Tonight/Fox Information Channel)

Baier started by discussing a Fox Information crime map displaying which of the highest most populated U.S. cities have the best homicide charges.

"Why does Chicago have the best homicide fee of all the massive cities?" he requested.

Pritzker replied by disputing that declare.

"Effectively, we're not within the prime 30, when it comes to our homicide fee," he stated. Baier tried to enter the information, however Pritzker saved speaking.

"Our homicide fee has been lower in half over the past 4 years, and yearly, it’s gone down by double digits. And if you happen to have a look at all the violent crime over the past 4 years, they’ve all gone down," he stated earlier than Baier lower him off and browse off Chicago’s primary rating on his map.

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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks on the workplace of The Heart for American Progress occasion March 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs)

Based on a report from Illinois research nonprofit, Wirepoints , Chicago had the best whole variety of murders in 2024 in comparison with all main U.S. cities in 2024, with 573 individuals killed that yr alone. New York Metropolis got here in second with 377, and Houston adopted with 322 that very same yr.

Amongst all main U.S. cities for that yr, the analysis group discovered that Chicago’s fee of 21.5 homicides per 100,000 individuals positioned it at quantity six. The primary spot was St. Louis with 52.9 homicides per 100,000.

St. Louis is a a lot smaller metropolis, which is why its homicide fee was increased than Chicago’s in 2024, regardless of having 5 occasions much less the variety of whole murders. The Missouri capital noticed 149 murders in 2024.

Although, like Baier’s information confirmed, the group famous that Chicago’s homicide fee was the best among the many prime 20 largest U.S. cities in 2024.

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks throughout a press convention in Chicago, Illinois, on August 25, 2025. (KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP through Getty Photographs)

On Fox, Bret replied to Pritzker’s assertion that Chicago wasn’t even within the prime 30 cities when it comes to homicide fee, suggesting the governor was speaking a couple of totally different metric altogether.

"Now, you’re speaking about violent crime," the anchor stated.

Pritzker tried to dodge the purpose, saying, "Look, you may pull statistics up, I can too."

Baier shot again, "No, no, no, these are murders."

The governor replied, "I’m explaining to you, our homicide fee has been lower in half and –– very importantly Bret –– you gotta hear this: very importantly, we’ve been doing the issues which can be essential to carry crime down."

Chicago Police preliminary data revealed that Chicago’s whole variety of murders from Jan. to Aug. 2025 is one-third decrease in comparison with the identical interval final yr.