O’FALLON, Ill. (WAND) —Illinois State Police have released disturbing body camera footage of the moment an O'Fallon police officer shot an armed suspect while responding to a disturbance call.
According to ISP, on August 29, 2025, at around 7:43 p.m., O’Fallon police officers were called to the 600 block of West Madison Street regarding a disturbance involving a man with a knife.
Police say officers arrived to find two people covered in blood running from a man later identified as 53-year-old Matthew Blanke of O’Fallon, who was outside the residence and armed with a knife. An officer attempted to engage Blanke and ordered him to drop the weapon. When Blanke refused, the officer fired their weapon, striking him.
Officers immediately rendered aid, but Blanke was pronounced dead at the scene. The two individuals who fled the residence were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening cuts and stab wounds. The officer involved was not injured.
In keeping with Illinois State Police policy on transparency, video of the incident has been released to the public. ISP officials say the video was made public only after consultation with the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Blanke’s family was given the opportunity to view the footage prior to its release.
Click here to view the body camera footage, viewer discretion advise.
On November 25, 2025, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that no charges would be filed against the officer involved in the shooting.
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