Chicago Police

Rogers Park Prepares For Halloween in Wake of 2 Seemingly Random Kills That Remain Unsolved

Ald. Joe Moore is inviting trick-or-treaters to stop by his office as a safe alternative.

Residents in Rogers Park say they remain on edge but two unsolved killings won't keep them from trick-or-treating--though they do hope to see extra police on the street.

"It's in the back of our mind for sure," resident Matt Ravenscraft said.

Police continue to look for a gunman who killed two people in the North Side neighborhood. On Sept. 30, Douglas Watts was shot while walking his dog. Just 36 hours later, Eliyahu Moscowitz was shot with the same gun, police said.

"It is definitely scary having a holiday where people wear masks," neighbor Diana Paquin Morel said. "When someone in a mask is walking around and shooting people in the face."

But Paquin Morel says fear won't spoil her family's Halloween fun.

"I did talk to my son about having to stay together because of a naughty person in the neighborhood," she said.

Chicago police are planning increased patrols.

Bike officers will be deployed on major thoroughfares including Sheridan, Clark and Devon.

There will be a heavy concentration of uniformed officers as well as plain clothes officers in unmarked cars.

Ald. Joe Moore is inviting trick-or-treaters to stop by his office as a safe alternative.

Police tell NBC 5 detectives are actively working on both murder investigations.

The reward in the case now stands at more than $20,000.

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