A new report finds that the homicide rate among African Americans in Chicago was 18 times higher than Caucasians last year.

The report is from the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System at Lurie Children's Hospital. 

According to the research, the homicide rate in Chicago among American Americans has increased since 2005 and 2010, when the rate was eight times and 16 times higher than caucasians.

Since 2005, there has been a 40 percent decrease in the homicide rate among caucasians.

The overall homicide rate in the city has increased since 2005, the research showed. 

"The homicide rates per 100,000 people in the City of Chicago were 17.32, 17.64 and 18.81 in 2005, 2010 and 2015, respectively," the report states. 

"At each time point," the report adds, "firearms were the most frequently used weapon type. There was a statistically significant increase in the percentage of homicides due to firearms at each time point."

The homicide rate in Chicago was highest for individuals aged 20 through 24 in 2005 and 2015, with 53.02 people per 100,000 killed in 2005 and 64.28 people per 100,000 killed in 2015.