For Release: Friday, June 6, 2025
While Gun Homicides Continue to Decline in Illinois, Gun Suicides Increase, Black Illinois Residents Continue to be Disproportionally Impacted by Gun Homicide
Guns claimed the lives of nearly 1,700 Illinois residents in 2023 according to Gun Death in Illinois, an annual report from One Aim Illinois, the state’s leading gun violence prevention organization, and the Violence Policy Center (VPC), a national research and advocacy organization working to stop gun death and injury.
Using the most recent data available from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the study shows that in 2023 guns claimed 1,691 Illinois lives including 962 homicides, 688 suicides and 13 unintentional deaths. The study offers year-over-year trend analyses by sex, age, race and ethnicity. Comparing 2023 to 2022, total firearm deaths in Illinois decreased 6%, with firearm homicides dropping nearly 12%. Firearm suicides increased slightly by almost 2%.
The report also highlights stories of Illinois residents impacted by firearms violence who are working in support of gun violence prevention as members of One Aim’s Survivors Council.
“This report is a sobering reminder of the human toll of gun violence in Illinois especially in Black communities where the harm is most concentrated,” said Yolanda Androzzo, Executive Director of One Aim Illinois. “Behind every number is a name, a family, a future cut short. These findings should push all of us to act with urgency, compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice.”
“Effective public policy is built on reliable and comprehensive data,” said Josh Sugarmann, Executive Director of the Violence Policy Center. “The goal of this annual study is to offer information that aids advocates, organizations and policymakers as they work to reduce gun violence for a safer Illinois.”
Key Findings:
- In 2023, guns claimed the lives of 1,691 Illinois residents, including 962 firearm homicides, 688 firearm suicides and 13 unintentional deaths.
- While only 14.0% of the state’s population is Black, three-quarters of the state’s firearm homicide deaths occurred in the Black population.
- Firearms were used in 44% of all suicides in Illinois in 2023 (688 of 1,567).
- From 2004 to 2023, the percentage of homicides committed with firearms in Illinois increased from 66% to 82%.
- Black Illinois residents were more than 38 times more likely to die by firearm homicide compared to white residents, while Hispanic Illinois residents were more than five times more likely to die by firearm homicide compared to white residents.
- Since 2014, gun deaths have outpaced motor vehicle deaths across the state.
- Illinois had the highest overall homicide and firearm homicide rates per 100,000 for individuals of all ages as well as those age 24 and younger compared to other Great Lakes states (Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin).
The report also cites One Aim’s 2025 policy priorities, including several that successfully passed this legislative session—Karina’s Bill, the Safe at Home Act and the Homicide Data Transparency Bill. Other key priorities, such as the Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act and full funding for community violence intervention initiatives, remain at the forefront of One Aim’s advocacy. One Aim continues to advocate for bold, evidence-based policies that address the root causes of violence and center the leadership and lived experiences of survivors, advocate and directly impacted communities.
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The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on X/Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
One Aim Illinois is a Black-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to end gun violence in Illinois by educating, advocating, and organizing to translate public opinion into effective public policy. Integral to our work, One Aim leads the state’s largest grassroots coalition working to protect Illinois families from firearm violence. We also work alongside our independent partner organizations, Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC) and Gun Violence Prevention Action Committee (GVPAction) to achieve our shared goals. Learn more at OneAimIL.org.
