The reward for information leading to the capture of a masked gunman who allegedly shot dead two people in Chicago before disappearing, prompting a manhunt, has been upped to $16,000, officials said over the weekend.
A video released by the Chicago Police Department on Oct. 3 shows the masked gunman walking on Sept. 30 at approximately 10:07 a.m., on West Sherwin Avenue in Rogers Park.
Police officers said the man is suspected of committing a murder in the 1400 block of West Sherwin, and that anyone with information should contact Area North Homicide Detectives at 312-744-8261 or submit an anonymous tip at www.CPDTIP.com.
The Chicago office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives announced the increase of the reward on Oct. 6.
The $16,000 total includes $5,000 from the bureau, $10,000 from the Jewish Federation of Metro Chicago, and $1,000 from Cook County Crime Stoppers.
REWARD: Suspect wanted in 2 recent homicides in Rogers Park. ATF Chicago adds $5,000 bringing reward to $16,000. Jewish Federation of Metro Chicago offering $10,000. Cook County Crime Stoppers $1,000. Report tips to https://t.co/qynX9njZUq or 1-888-ATF-TIPS pic.twitter.com/phnIkCiKub
— ATF Chicago (@ATF_Chicago) October 6, 2018
The masked gunman appeared to be randomly selecting people and killed two in two days, police officers said.
The first victim was identified as Douglass Watts, 73, who was shot in the head while walking his dogs on West Sherwin Avenue, reported ABC 7.
The second was Eliyahu Moscowitz, 24, who was shot in the head while walking on the Loyola Park path near Lunt Avenue.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said police believe the same suspect killed both men, using the same gun.
“The shell casings found at both crime scenes from the 1100 block of West Lunt and the 1400 block of West Sherwin Avenue from Sunday were found to be a match,” Johnson said. “This means both shootings came from the same gun and likely the same suspect.”
Eliyahu Moscowitz, known to friends as Eli, a 24-year-old mashgiach at the kosher Jewel on Howard, was fatally shot last night. He was an avid gamer in Chicago's Pokemon Go community, friends say https://t.co/8Lt1fIv9s6 pic.twitter.com/hWwBQ1v3Bg
— Elyssa Cherney (@ElyssaCherney) October 2, 2018
Neighbors Scared
The two killings have left neighbors in the area shaken, many of whom knew at least one of the victims.
“Recently, we are increasingly concerned about our safety. A lot of people in our community who used to not protect themselves are taking precautions,” Rabbi Shalom Gurewicz told the Chicago Tribune, noting that some in the Jewish community were considering getting concealed carry licenses or mace before the shootings.
At a meeting several days after the shooting, Sgt. Shawn Sisk, a police officer who patrols the area, told people not to let children walk alone while advising everyone, even men, to walk in pairs or groups.
“When you have situations like this, you have to switch to a different gear. You can’t take safety for granted,” he said. “I can’t guarantee we won’t have another shooting. Nobody can.”
Noting the fact that no belongings were taken from either victim, Lynda Kaplan, a neighbor of Watts’s, told CBS, “This was an execution.”
“I am so freaked out,” Kaplan said. She said her fears grew after the second murder. “I knew in a second it was the same person,” she said.
