More than 2,000 people have been killed or injured in gun violence this year in America's third biggest city.

Shootouts between suspected gang members on the last day of the 4 July holiday weekend brought the number of shooting victims in Chicago in 2016 so far to 2,021.

The total for the whole of 2015 was just over 2,900, the Chicago Tribune said.

The city's police force had hoped that a new strategy for dealing with gun violence had been working.

Earlier in the weekend, Superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters: "We're making progress. It's not success yet, but this goes a long way."


Gang Violence, Politics And Chicago

But, on Tuesday, nearly 30 people were shot, bringing the weekend's toll to 66, with at least five fatalities.

Among those injured was a five-year-old girl and her eight-year-old cousin, who were both shot in the leg while playing with sparklers.

Two other children were also hit by gunfire.

When Supt Johnson held a later news conference, he blamed the problem on the number of guns on the street.

Over Dozen Hurt In Chicago Shooting

He denied the violence was a result of too few officers on the street and called for new laws to lengthen prison sentences for people who are convicted of more than one gun offence.

He said: "This is another example of the fact that we have too many guns on the streets of Chicago and too many people willing to use them."

The 4 July weekend is often the most violent in the city and this year 5,000 officers were on duty in key areas.

So far this year, 315 people have been murdered as a result of gun crime.

Earlier this year, a man was shot while he was broadcasting live on Facebook.