After years of decline, a spike in city violence

Expert says crime numbers now 'in scary territory'

In this July 6 file photo, a Chicago police officer rests his hand on his forehead at the scene where a man was shot in the face in Chicago. Homicides and shooting incidents in Chicago are up roughly 20 percent from the same period last year. - photo by Associated Press

Police Rising Violenc Ledb — In this July 6 file photo, a Chicago police officer rests his hand on his forehead at the scene where a man was shot in the face in Chicago. Homicides and shooting incidents in Chicago are up roughly 20 percent from the same period last year. - photo by Associated Press

CHICAGO — Police departments across the country that have spent years boasting about plummeting crime numbers are now scrambling to confront something many agencies have not seen in decades: more bloodshed. Houston, St. Louis, New Orleans and Baltimore have all seen significant spikes in the number of homicides this year. The totals are up in other cities, too, including New York and Chicago.

Associated Press

Associated Press