Chicago Pediatric Firearm Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Pediatric firearm injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents of Chicago were placed under a “stay at home” order during the Spring of 2020. The full impact of these “stay at home” orders is unknown, but previous social and economic stressors have been associated with increased rates of violence. Additionally, studies demonstrate increased firearm purchases during this time period, a known risk factor for homicide and suicide. We sought to describe pediatric firearm associated deaths in Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic and “stay at home” order.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the Cook County Medical Examiner’s database from January 2016 through December 2020. We collected information on all firearm associated deaths for persons less than 18 years old and compared deaths from 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Chicago’s “stay at home” order to deaths from the previous 4 years to determine if there were differences that occurred during these time periods.

Results: During the 5 year period, there were a total of 221 pediatric firearm deaths, 285 firearm homicides and 29 firearm suicides. 2020 had a similar number of pediatric firearm homicides, 67, compared to prior years, range 47-82. The majority of these firearm homicides occurred in Black (76%) children aged 15-17 (74%). There were more firearm homicides in persons aged 1-14 (14) in 2020 compared to prior years (range 3-10). June and July 2020 saw the highest number of firearm homicides per month, 9 and 11. The months during Chicago’s “stay at home” order did not see an increase in firearm homicides compared to prior years, 11 compared to range 0-19. 2020 had a greater number of pediatric firearm suicides, 11, compared to prior years, range 2-7. There were more firearm suicides in Black children in 2020, 5, compared to prior years, range 1-2. The majority of firearm suicides occurred in children aged 15-17 (73%). Additionally, 2020 saw more firearm suicides in children aged 10-14, 3, compared to prior years, range 0-2. The months during Chicago’s “stay at home” order did not see an increase in firearm suicides compared to prior years, 0 compared to range 0-3.

Conclusion: Firearm injuries are a leading cause of death in children. Changes in the epidemiology of pediatric firearm injuries during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Chicago include a similar number of firearm homicides and an increased number of firearm suicides. Black male adolescents continue to be disproportionately affected by both firearm homicide and firearm suicide. There did not appear to be an increase in firearm homicides or firearm suicides during Chicago’s “stay at home” order.