hicago has surpassed 600 homicides for the second year in a row and for only the third time since 2003, according to data kept by the Tribune. As of early Monday, the city has recorded at least 609 homicides. That trails the 711 homicides this time last year but far exceeds previous years. In 2015, the city had recorded 443 homicides by the weekend of Nov. 22. In 2014, it was 400. [snip]