CHICAGO, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the Department of Justice will provide financial help fight a wave of gun violence in Chicago.
Despite the pledge, which came during a visit to install a new U.S. Attorney in the Windy City, Holder offered no specifics about how much money would be provided or when it would arrive, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Officials told the newspaper Holder plans to divert money seized during drug deals to Chicago law enforcement agencies as a way to get around government spending cuts that have made it more difficult to increase aide to municipalities suffering particularly difficult violent spells.
Contacted for comment, the Chicago branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said it was unaware of any plans for serious manpower expansion related to Holder's remarks. The local ATF branch is at historically low staffing levels and relying on agents on loan from local law enforcement to carry out investigations, the Sun-Times said.
Chicago's homicide count for 2013 stands at 403, with 333 of those deaths a result of gun violence.
