Bret Baier confronts Pritzker with data showing Chicago tops murder rate

Fox Information host Bret Baier confronted Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ailing., on Wednesday about Chicago’s homicide price.

Throughout an unique Fox Information Channel interview, Baier and Pritzker bought into an argument in regards to the homicide price in his metropolis. The host launched survey knowledge to dispute the governor’s on-air declare that Chicago is not even among the many 30 U.S. cities with the best murder charges.

“Effectively, here is a map – most populous US cities: 17.47 per 100,000 residents. Chicago is primary above Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York and San Diego,” Baier advised Pritzker.

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Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ailing., and Fox Information host Bret Baier are feuding over Chicago’s murder knowledge. (Breaking Tonight/Fox Information channel)

Baier started by discussing a criminal offense map from Fox Information that reveals which of essentially the most populous U.S. cities have the best homicide charges.

“Why does Chicago have the best homicide price of any main metropolis?” he requested.

Pritzker responded by disputing that declare.

“Effectively, we’re not within the high thirty with regards to our murder price,” he mentioned. Baier tried to elaborate, however Pritzker saved speaking.

“Our homicide price has halved within the final 4 years, and yearly it has fallen by double digits. And when you have a look at all of the violent crimes over the past 4 years, they’re all down,” he mentioned earlier than Baier reduce him off and browse off Chicago’s primary rating on his chart.

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks on the Middle for American Progress occasion workplace on March 18, 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs)

That is evident from a report from Illinois non-profit organization, WirepointsChicago had the best murder price of any main U.S. metropolis in 2024, with 573 deaths that 12 months alone. New York Metropolis got here in second with 377, and Houston adopted with 322 that very same 12 months.

Of all main U.S. cities for that 12 months, the analysis group discovered that Chicago ranked sixth with 21.5 homicides per 100,000 residents. The primary spot was St. Louis with 52.9 murders per 100,000.

St. Louis is a a lot smaller metropolis, which is why its 2024 homicide price was larger than Chicago’s, regardless of having 5 occasions fewer murders. There have been 149 murders in Missouri’s capital in 2024.

Though, as Baier’s knowledge confirmed, the group famous that Chicago’s murder price in 2024 was the best among the many high 20 largest U.S. cities.

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

On Fox, Bret responded to Pritzker’s declare that Chicago wasn’t even within the high 30 cities for murder price, indicating the governor was speaking a few fully completely different benchmark.

“Now you are speaking about violent crimes,” the presenter mentioned.

Pritzker tried to keep away from the purpose by saying, “Look, you may pull up statistics, so can I.”

Baier replied, “No, no, no, these are murders.”

The governor responded, “I am explaining to you that our homicide price has been reduce in half and – essential Bret – it’s essential hear this: essential: now we have achieved the issues mandatory to cut back crime.

Chicago police preliminary data revealed that the full variety of homicides in Chicago from January to August 2025 is down one-third in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months.