It's not something civic leaders will want to brag about, but the Chicago Police Department reports the city has recorded its 500th homicide of 2008.
And more than a week -- including high-octane New Year's Eve -- remained in the year when the department made the announcement Tuesday.
Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said the 500th slaying, by unofficial count, had been Monday night. She did not immediately identify the victim.
The figure of 500 would mark the most homicides in the city since 2003, yet homicides remain historically low compared with the last four decades.
Last year's total of 443 was the lowest since 1965.
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