CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say 52 people were shot, eight of them fatally, in gun violence over the weekend. Two people were also stabbed to death, bringing the total number of homicides over the weekend to 10.

In a Monday morning press conference, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson called the violence “despicable.”

“Despite investments and progress in safety, weekends like this remind us all of the challenges that we face and that they are complex and profound,” Johnson said. “I know I can speak for everyone at CPD when I say that we take these shootings seriously and there’s a heightened sense of urgency and care when it comes to gun violence in this city.”

Johnson ordered targeted patrols in certain areas in response to several gang-related incidents since Friday. He says those efforts have netted 18 arrests and 92 seized guns since Friday evening.

Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says police are questioning several people of interest in some of the incidents and detectives have good leads in others. Police ask anyone with information to contact them.

Homicide numbers in Chicago are continuing a downward trend over the last two years. There were more than 200 fewer homicides in 2018 compared with 2016.

Kristen Thometz contributed to this report.

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