Douglass Watts, a 73-year-old white man, was tragically shot and killed on the morning of September 30, 2018, while walking his dogs in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred around 10 a.m., and Watts was shot in the head at point-blank range. The murder of Douglass Watts was part of a brief but terrifying spree that also claimed the life of 24-year-old Eliyahu Moscowitz, who was similarly shot in the head less than 36 hours later while walking along the Lakefront Trail. Both victims were white men, and neither had been robbed, leading investigators to believe the killings were not motivated by theft.
The Chicago Police Department quickly linked the two murders through ballistic testing, confirming that the same firearm was used in both incidents. Surveillance footage captured a suspect wearing black clothing and a ski mask, walking with a distinctive gait that led to the moniker "Duck Walk Killer." Despite the release of this footage and a significant community effort to raise a reward for information, the suspect remains unidentified and at large. The police have described the suspect as a dark-complexioned individual, but the exact race remains undetermined due to the suspect's efforts to conceal their identity.
The murders of Douglass Watts and Eliyahu Moscowitz sent shockwaves through the Rogers Park community, prompting increased vigilance and a substantial reward fund. Initially, a $23,000 reward was offered, which eventually grew to $150,000, the largest ever raised by a community in Chicago for the capture of a single killer. Despite receiving numerous tips and extensive media coverage, the case remains unsolved, and the Duck Walk Killer has not been apprehended.
The investigation into these murders has been thorough, involving forensic ballistic analysis and extensive community outreach. However, the lack of a clear motive and the suspect's ability to evade capture have left the community on edge. The police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward, hoping that new leads will eventually bring justice for Douglass Watts and Eliyahu Moscowitz.
