Dawson Wayde Reese, a 21-year-old male from Pekin, Illinois, passed away at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025, alongside his best friend Chase Rhodes, who was also 21 years old. Their bodies were discovered by Peoria County Sheriff's deputies who responded to a shooting incident shortly before 5:00 a.m. in the 11000 block of Route 29 in South Pekin. Autopsies for both young men were scheduled for the following day.
Dawson was a 2022 graduate of Pekin Community High School, where he distinguished himself as a team captain and four-year starter for the PCHS football team. After graduating from MTI in 2023, he worked as a Commercial HVAC Technician for Daikin in Iowa, specializing in big chillers. He was known for his love of outdoor activities, including riding ATVs, jet skiing, boating, fishing, mushroom hunting, and trap shooting. He was also an avid coin and silver collector who enjoyed playing Texas Hold Em with family and friends.
The joint visitation for Dawson and his best friend Chase was held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Dawson's funeral service took place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with Pastor Shane Hawkins officiating, followed by burial at Lancaster Cemetery in Glasford.
Based on the available information from public sources, no details regarding arrests, suspects, or the circumstances surrounding the shooting have been released to the public at this time.
