William Todd Fowler, a 31-year-old man from Moline, Illinois, tragically lost his life on December 9, 2018. Fowler, who was born on October 22, 1987, in Silvis, Illinois, was shot in the early hours of the morning in the Floreciente neighborhood of Moline. The incident occurred around 5:48 a.m. at a residence located in the 400 block of 8th Street. Despite being rushed to Unity Point-Rock Island and subsequently transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Fowler succumbed to his injuries later that day.
The investigation into William Fowler's death revealed that the residence where the shooting took place was targeted due to ongoing gang conflicts. However, Fowler was not the intended target and had no known association with the individuals involved in the conflict. The Moline Police Department, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the East Moline Police Department, Quad City Federal Gang Task Force, Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, Colona Police Department, Silvis Police Department, and the Rock Island Police Department, conducted a thorough investigation into the incident.
On December 20, 2018, the Rock Island County State’s Attorney’s Office issued First Degree Murder warrants for three suspects in connection with Fowler's death. The suspects included 29-year-old Nathan C. Luten of Silvis, Illinois, 17-year-old Rory D. Bruno Jr. of Colona, Illinois, and a 15-year-old juvenile from East Moline, Illinois. Luten, who was already in custody at the Rock Island County Jail on unrelated charges, was remanded on a $2,130,000 bond. Bruno Jr. and the juvenile were taken into custody in Colona and transported to the Mary Davis Detention Home with bonds set at $2,000,000 each.
The investigation revealed that Nathan C. Luten had threatened to kill a Moline Police Detective and attempted to flee when officers tried to take him into custody. He was eventually apprehended at a residence in Silvis without further incident. Luten faced additional charges of harassment by telephone with threat of death, threatening a public official, and aggravated fleeing/eluding a peace officer. The involvement of the two juveniles in the shooting further complicated the case, highlighting the tragic consequences of gang-related violence in the community.
The Moline Police Department continued to examine evidence and gather information related to the case, urging anyone with additional information to come forward. The collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies played a crucial role in apprehending the suspects and bringing them to justice. The death of William Todd Fowler, a young man with no ties to the gang conflicts that led to his untimely demise, serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching impact of violence and the importance of community cooperation in addressing such issues.
