(CNN)Major American cities saw a 33% increase in homicides last year as a pandemic swept across the country, — a crime surge that has continued into the first quarter of this year. Sixty-three of the 66 largest police jurisdictions saw increases in at least one category of violent crimes in 2020, which include homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, according to a report produced by the Major Cities Chiefs Association.Through the first three months of 2021, a number of major cities have indicated they are still experiencing high rates of violent crime. In Chicago, homicides are up 33% in the first three months of the year compared to 2020, while shootings are up nearly 40% for the same period year-over-year. In New York City, the NYPD data shows murders jumped by nearly 14% through March 28, the latest numbers the department has made public, while shootings were up nearly 50%. In Los Angeles, homicides have increased nearly 36% from 67 to 91 through March 30. Those three cities -- the nation's largest -- all saw significant increases last year over 2019.
