“Loyola Community,
The Chicago Police Department is continuing to investigate the two homicides that occurred in the Rogers Park neighborhood half a mile north of Loyola’s Lakeshore Campus. The University is closely monitoring the progress of the situation and strongly encourages members of the community to remain vigilant…
Sincerely,
Chief Thomas Murray
Director of Campus Safety
Loyola University Chicago”
Reading that ambiguous email from Campus Safety bewildered Taylor McGee, a 19-year-old Loyola student. “Being a young lady in a big city, I always have to be careful,” Taylor confessed. “But now I find myself looking over my shoulder more than usual.”
Before attending Loyola, Taylor lived in St. Louis. Although St. Louis is a large city like Chicago, Taylor feels safer there than she does in Rogers Park because she is more familiar with the area. Taylor remembered the worst crime she experienced in St. Louis was someone breaking into her dad’s car.
“I consider myself a glass half full type of person, and I realize the odds of me getting killed are slim,” Taylor said. “However, this crime hits very close to home. The killings occurred only blocks away from campus in areas where I often find myself. Sometimes I wonder how safe I truly am here in Rogers Park.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, “the back-to-back Rogers Park murders seemed to be as random as they are brutal.” The first person killed was Douglass Watts, 73, who was walking his dog steps away from his home on Sept. 30. Then, less than 36 hours later, Eliyahu Moscowitz, 24, was killed close to the Lakefront Trail near Loyola Park. Both victims were shot once in the head and left to die.
The Chicago Police confirmed the same gun was used to shoot both men, therefore both men were likely killed by the same gunman. Police did not find a motive behind either attack. These discoveries struck fear into the hearts of many Rogers Park residents, who live in a neighborhood known for its safety and diversity.
Rogers Park is far from Chicago’s more violent communities. However, the Rogers Park Police District has seen a rise in homicides over the last year. According to official police department statistics, the Rogers Park Police District had a total of seven homicides this year, compared to five homicides last year. The Department also reported that shooting incidents have increased from 18 to 26 incidents. According to statistics through Sept., the Department disclosed that aggravated battery crimes have increased a total of 32 percent this year in the District.
Because of these frightening statistics and rise in criminal activity, Ald. Joe Moore of the 49th District said he can see why people are concerned and frightened.
Moore added that “[these types of crimes are] not an everyday occurrence in our neighborhood.”
Following these killings, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel encouraged residents of the neighborhood to use caution as they go about their daily lives.
At a news conference, Emanuel said: “To all the residents of the Rogers Park community, your city is standing with you, supporting you, at this moment. I know firsthand the Rogers Park community is strong, is resilient and is a supportive community. We need those core values and the Police Department needs those core values at this time.”
Despite the encouragement and hopefulness highlighted in Emanuel’s message, Rogers Park residents, especially Loyola Students, still feared for their lives, their safety and the safety of their friends and family.
Taylor admitted she still feels unsafe: “Even though I have lived in Rogers Park for one year now, I am still unsure how safe the area is and I am scared to walk off of campus on my own.”
Taylor discussed how Campus Safety should be a more prominent resource for students to stay updated and feel secure. Campus Safety often fails to inform students of crimes within the area if it is outside a one-mile radius of Loyola campus. But, because some students do live off campus, it is important to keep them and their safety in mind.
Lack of information from Campus Safety, as well as the recent homicides, led Loyola students to create a Facebook Page called “Roam Ropo” where students update each other on crimes in Rogers Park. Students can also post in the page to find someone to walk home with late at night, or someone to meet up with when they are going to a location on or off campus.
“Information travels fast,” Taylor said. “This page is a great way for students to feel more aware as well as stay updated and feel connected.”
Chigo Chukwu, an 18-year-old Loyola student who grew up in Los Angeles, is a part of this “Roam Ropo” page as well. Chigo felt that campus safety was lacking and needed another way to look out for herself.
“When I first came to Loyola, I felt safe in Rogers Park. But now, I can see that Campus Safety’s top priority is not keeping students informed,” Chigo said. “This has made me have regrets about choosing Loyola. With my parents being so far away, they fear for my safety.”
Rita Mormando, a 19-year-old Loyola student who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, feels similar to Chigo. Rita also depends on the “Roam Ropo” page. She said she joined the page because being a young female makes it difficult to feel safe in Rogers Park, especially with a murderer running around.
“Campus Safety is unreliable these days,” Rita said. “If I relied on Campus Safety for information and trusted Rogers Park I would probably be dead.”.
The most popular piece of evidence that students have obsessed over is a surveillance video of the suspected killer released by the Chicago Police Department.
“They have pictures of the video in some of the dorm buildings with the word ‘HOMICIDE’ written boldly at the top,” Taylor’s eyes widened. She continued cautiously: “It is really scary.”
“As a young girl, I am smaller and not very strong,” Taylor said. “A grown man could very easily overpower me.” She also acknowledged most of her friends walk around Chicago and Rogers Park everyday with the same concerns.
Despite these concerns, Taylor remembered how her Dad raised her to be brave, tough and to not live her life in constant fear.
“At the end of the day, even though there is a dangerous killer on the loose, I still have to live my life,” Taylor said. “I am going to try my best to not let him stop me.”
Lindsay Loo
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