Coroner identifies man shot and killed by O’Fallon police officer
The identity of a knife-wielding man who was fatally shot by an O’Fallon police officer Friday night has been released by the St. Clair County coroner’s office.
Police were dispatched to the 6300 block of West Madison to investigate a report of a knife-wielding man. They arrived to two people covered in blood and running from him.
Officers ordered the man to put his knife down and he refused. An officer then fatally shot the man, according to an Illinois State Police news release.
St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. identified the man as Matthew J. Blanke, 53, of the 600 block of West Madison, O’Fallon, which is near the site of the shooting.
Blanke was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:07 p.m., Dye said.
The two victims, who authorities did not identify, were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening cuts and stab wounds.
The officer who shot and killed Blanke has not been identified. The officer was not injured.
O’Fallon police said in a statement that, per state law and their department policy, Illinois State Police was called to investigate the shooting.
All reports will be turned over to St. Clair County State’s Attorney Jim Gomric’s office to determine if any charges will be filed.
No further information about the shooting was released.
This story was originally published August 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM.
