The quiet predawn hours in South Pekin, Illinois, were shattered on Thursday, April 24, 2025, when gunfire erupted at a residence just off Illinois Route 29, leaving two young men dead and a community grappling with grief. Chase Rhodes and Dawson Reese, both 21 years old and lifelong residents of the Pekin area, were found deceased inside a home near the Pekin Municipal Airport. The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Jeffrey Lower, responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired around 4:30 a.m., but by the time deputies arrived shortly before 6 a.m., the tragedy had already unfolded. Authorities swiftly took a suspect, identified as 21-year-old Memphis S. Rue, into custody at the scene, charging him with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths.
The loss of Rhodes and Reese, described by friends and family as vibrant young men with promising futures, has left a profound void in the tight-knit community of South Pekin, a small village just south of Peoria. Rhodes, a Pekin native, was known for his infectious smile and passion for outdoor activities, often spending weekends fishing along the Illinois River. Reese, who grew up in rural Pekin, was remembered as a loyal friend with a knack for fixing cars, a skill he honed at a local auto shop where he worked part-time. Their deaths, occurring in a place where neighbors know one another by name, have sparked an outpouring of sorrow and disbelief.
Sheriff Lower, addressing the media later that day, emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation, which is being conducted with assistance from the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services and the Tazewell County Coroner’s Office. Coroner Charles Hanley confirmed that autopsies for both victims were scheduled for Friday, April 25, to determine the precise cause of death, though early reports indicate both suffered fatal gunshot wounds. The sheriff declined to release additional details about the circumstances leading to the shooting, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the investigation. However, he assured the public that the incident appeared isolated, with no ongoing threat to the community.
The residence where the shooting occurred, located in the 11300 block of Illinois Route 29, sits in a quiet area near the Pekin Riding Club and just south of the municipal airport, a hub for private pilots. Neighbors reported hearing loud noises in the early morning but initially dismissed them as unrelated to violence, a testament to the rarity of such events in South Pekin. The tragedy has prompted discussions about safety in the region, with some residents expressing shock that such violence could strike so close to home.
Memphis S. Rue, the suspect, remains in custody as the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office prepares to forward the case to the State’s Attorney’s Office for formal charging and prosecution. Little has been released about Rue’s background or potential motives, though authorities confirmed he was apprehended without incident at the scene. The investigation continues to explore the relationships between Rue, Rhodes, and Reese, as well as any events that may have precipitated the fatal encounter.
As South Pekin mourns, community members have begun organizing vigils to honor Rhodes and Reese, with plans to gather at a local park over the weekend. The deaths have reignited conversations about gun violence and its impact on small communities, leaving residents to reflect on how to heal and move forward. For now, the focus remains on supporting the families of the victims, whose lives were cut tragically short in a moment that has forever altered the fabric of this Illinois village.