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21 People Shot, 7 Killed Over The Weekend In Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - "Our overall crime is still declining, but we are in fact fighting our own progress," says Detroit Police Chief James Craig.

Addressing the media following a particularly violent weekend in the city, Craig said a total of 21 people were shot, 7 of them fatally, at a total of 17 crime scenes.

"Two weekend ago, we were sitting on a total number of 24 victims," the chief told WWJ's Vickie Thomas and other reporters. "So the last three to four weeks hasn't been good; but in terms of overall crime, we're still sitting on significant reductions."

As of Monday, citywide there was a 6 percent reduction in overall violent crime versus last year, said Craig, and a 6 percent reduction in property crime. In terms of homicides, as of Monday, the city was even with last year with 96 killed so far in 2016.

Craig stressed it should to be noted that overall violent crime is still down 16 percent since 2013.

That, he said, means progress.

"Let me tell you, I meet people every day of the week. They stop me — whether they're from Canada, people who live or work here  — and you know what they say? 'We feel safer.' That's an interesting statement," the chief said. "...They feel better about this city, and I'm going to keep beating that drum."

Police said the weekend shooting included one person dead and four wounded Friday night outside car wash on the city's east side, and the fatal shooting of a man Sunday night in southwest Detroit.

Craig said two people have been arrested in connection another fatal shooting over the weekend which involved a street robbery on the city's northeast side. The suspects were arrested, he said, when they tried to commit a second robbery and one of them was shot by their intended victim.

Also at Monday's news conference, Craig and other officials cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of a brand new 7th Precinct on Chene St. near Mack Ave.

He said this will help expand the department's footprint as part of stepped up enforcement efforts.

"And when we talk about the recent spate of violence especially involving children, starting at Easter, certainly that drives a lot of fear. We recognize it, and that's why the initiative 'Taking back our neighborhoods one neighborhood at a time' does have value," Craig said.

"I know and we know definitively that if the neighborhoods get involved, the stakeholders get involved, that's when we can truly start seeing a reduction in crime."

Anyone with information about any of the shootings over the weekend is urged to call Detroit police at  313-596-5640 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip like at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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