Crime
19-year-old Dreshaun Mathis killed in Belleville shooting
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Dreshaun Mathis, who was killed Saturday night in Belleville.
According to a statement from the Belleville Police Department, officers were first alerted at approximately 7:20 p.m. when they were dispatched to Memorial Hospital following reports that a man had arrived with a gunshot wound.
The victim, later identified as Mathis, was stabilized and then transferred to a hospital in St. Louis.
Despite medical efforts, he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators determined that the shooting occurred in the 500 block of North 38th Street, though police have not disclosed the details that led to that conclusion.
The Belleville Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Crime Scene Unit are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
At this time, no suspect information has been released.
This tragedy marks the fourth fatal shooting reported in Belleville in 2025, underscoring growing concerns about gun violence in the community.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Belleville Police Department or submit tips anonymously through regional Crime Stoppers services.
Crime
Watch: Jeffrey Epstein survivors release video calling on Congress to release the Epstein files
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have released a powerful public message calling on Congress to declassify and release all documents connected to Epstein, his crimes, and those who may have enabled or participated in his trafficking network.
In the video statement, survivors emphasize that across five presidential administrations, they have waited without answers, transparency, or meaningful accountability.
More than three decades after Epstein’s crimes first came to light, they say critical information remains sealed, redacted, or otherwise inaccessible to the public — including to those who suffered directly as a result of his actions.
“For thirty years, we have waited in silence and uncertainty,” the message states. “We deserve the truth. The world deserves the truth. The time has come to bring the secrets out of the shadows.”
The group is urging lawmakers to support the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a proposed measure that would require the federal government to release investigative records, court materials, and relevant agency files associated with Epstein, his associates, and public institutions connected to the case.
Advocates argue that releasing the full record will not only expose systemic failures but also help prevent future exploitation by revealing networks, complicity, and loopholes that enabled Epstein to operate with impunity for decades.
In their call to action, survivors are asking the public to contact their elected officials and demand full transparency.
The video concludes with a unified plea:
“We are demanding the release of all Epstein files. The time is now. Call your member of Congress and tell them to vote YES on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”
The movement continues to gain momentum nationally, with growing public support and increasing pressure on lawmakers to act.
Further updates will be provided as legislative developments unfold.