Authorities in Mississippi are investigating two separate incidents involving Black men found hanging within 24 hours, raising alarm and prompting calls for transparency as communities grapple with shock and grief.

On Monday, Delta State University police confirmed that 21-year-old student Demartravion “Trey” Reed was found dead on campus in Cleveland, Mississippi. University Police Chief Michael L. Peeler said during a press conference that Reed’s body was discovered hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts at approximately 7:05 a.m.

“At this time, there is no evidence of foul play,” Peeler said. “The body has been retrieved by the Bolivar County Coroner’s office. I have requested the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s office, and the Cleveland Police Department to assist us in this ongoing investigation.”

Although the Bolivar County Coroner has not confirmed the cause of death, authorities are treating the incident as a suicide. Delta State President Dan Ennis addressed the campus community following the discovery, noting that the campus would not go into lockdown due to there being no present threat.

“I want to reiterate Chief Peeler’s comment, Ennis said. “There is no evidence of a threat to campus, and there is no evidence the campus is unsafe at this point.”

The tragedy occurred as the university’s roughly 2,700 students were preparing to celebrate its centennial. All ceremonies, including opening ceremonies and the unveiling of a time capsule, were canceled, and classes were suspended on Monday as students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to visit counseling resources to cope with the traumatic incident.

“Our community is deeply saddened by their loss,” Delta State said in a statement. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends impacted.”

Ennis noted that university leadership would meet to determine whether classes and events would resume later in the week.

Just hours after Reed’s death, another tragic discovery was made across the state. Around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, the Vicksburg Police Department responded to a call about a body found hanging in a wooded area off the 4100 block of Washington Street, near the Ameristar Casino.

The victim has been identified as Cory Zukatis, a resident of Brandon, Mississippi. Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and as of press time, no further details have been released regarding the circumstances surrounding Zukatis’s death.

Although police have assured the public that the two incidents are not connected, the proximity in timing between Reed’s death in Cleveland and Zukatis’s in Vicksburg has drawn heightened attention—especially after Black colleges received bomb threats following the death of controversial podcaster, Charlie Kirk.

Officials in both cases have said that foul play is not suspected, but the fact that two men were found hanging in separate Mississippi cities on the same day has left communities shaken and has highlighted the importance of mental health awareness, community support, and open communication during moments of collective grief.

 A Campus in Shock as Authorities Investigate Tragic Death

This morning (September 15), the Delta State University community in Cleveland, Mississippi, was devastated by the discovery of 21-year-old Demartravion “Trey” Reedhanging from a tree on campus. The body was found around 7:05 a.m. near the pickleball courts, a highly visible area in the center of campus.

Staff immediately called emergency services, and Reed was pronounced dead at the scene. His death occurred during Delta State’s centennial celebrations, prompting the university to cancel classes and events for the day. What should have been a week of joy and commemoration for the institution quickly turned into mourning and uncertainty.

Authorities—including the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland Police, and Delta State University Police—launched a joint investigation. At this stage, officials stated that no evidence of foul play had been found. However, they stressed that the matter was under active review and an autopsy was pending.

University’s Response and Support for Students

Delta State University President Daniel Ennis issued a public statement acknowledging Reed’s death and offering condolences to his family. He emphasized the availability of counseling services for students, staff, and faculty.

“The loss of Trey Reed is devastating to all of us,” Ennis said. “We extend our deepest sympathy to his loved ones and are committed to supporting our students, faculty, and staff during this difficult time.”

Classes were suspended, centennial celebrations were paused, and the normally busy campus fell silent. This was because students gathered for impromptu vigils and shared messages of support online.

A Painful Historical Echo in Mississippi

Investigators have not confirmed foul play. However, the nature of Reed’s death has ignited public skepticism and raised painful reminders of Mississippi’s violent racial history.

The Equal Justice Initiative has documented more than 650 lynchings of Black people in Mississippi between 1877 and 1950. That’s the highest total of any state during that period. For many, the image of a young Black man found hanging from a tree in 2025 cannot be separated from that historical context.

Trey Knowles’ “White People vs. Extraterrestrial White People” is a sharp and humorous comedy set in which he playfully explores the difference between ordinary white people and their supposed extraterrestrial counterparts living among us. Through satire and imaginative storytelling, Knowles presents two contrasting groups. One group represents real people who strive to follow the will of God, care about humanity, and protect the Earth. The other group, however, represents deceptive forces that have no concern for the well-being of the planet or its people. In the story, these “Extraterrestrial White People” symbolize beings who seek control rather than harmony. If they cannot dominate the Earth through power and influence, they would rather see the planet destroyed so that no one else can enjoy it. They build themselves up by exploiting the mistakes of others, presenting themselves as figures of justice while quietly benefiting from the wrongdoing that exists in the world. Knowles uses humor and exaggeration to highlight a deeper idea: that true righteousness is measured not by appearance or claims of authority, but by actions that align with justice, truth, and the will of God.

Trey Knowles’ “White People Are Innocent” is a satirical and thought-provoking work that uses humor and imagination to explore the topic of race in America. In the song, Knowles presents a playful concept: the historical mistreatment of Black and Indigenous people was not truly carried out by ordinary white people, but by “aliens” disguised among them—beings who do not follow the will of God. In this symbolic sense, anyone who acts in opposition to God’s will becomes like an alien to His truth. Through this imaginative perspective, the song invites listeners to step back from division and reflect on a deeper message about unity, forgiveness, and spiritual awareness. Beneath the humor lies the idea that humanity’s real struggle is not simply against one another, but against unseen influences that promote deception, hatred, and conflict. This theme reflects the message found in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” By blending satire, storytelling, and spiritual reflection, “White People Are Innocent” encourages listeners to move beyond surface-level divisions and instead seek truth, love, and unity among all people.

In “Wales vs. Congo,” Trey Knowles delivers a bold and hilarious comedic performance in which he goes head-to-head with Satan himself. In the story, Satan arrives in the Congo with one goal—to steal, exploit, and destroy. Attempting to bargain for control of Congo’s vast resources, he offers the world in exchange for what rightfully belongs to the people. But Trey isn’t buying it. With sharp wit and fearless humor, Trey shuts the deal down and sends Satan packing back to Wales. Along the way, he exposes the real “elephant in the room”—the hidden powers and systems established in high places that profit from exploitation while pretending to offer help. Refusing to sell out Congo’s wealth, Trey declares that its resources belong to the people and ultimately to God. In a biting moment of satire, he identifies Satan as the “white Lucifer” and the “red dragon from Wales,” blending biblical imagery with historical commentary. The “red dragon” directly echoes the imagery of the Book of Revelation, where the dragon symbolizes Satan, while also referencing the famous red dragon on the Welsh flag. Through humor, symbolism, and fearless commentary, “Wales vs. Congo” becomes more than a comedy—it’s a clever confrontation of exploitation, power, and spiritual deception, all wrapped in Trey Knowles’ unmistakable style.

Operation Fishbowl was a series of high-altitude nuclear tests in 1962 that were carried out by the United States as a part of the larger Operation Dominic nuclear test program.

The Operation Fishbowl nuclear tests were originally to be completed during the first half of 1962 with three tests named Bluegill, Starfish and Urraca.

The first test attempt was delayed until June. Planning for Operation Fishbowl, as well as many other nuclear tests in the region, began rapidly in response to the sudden Soviet announcement on August 30, 1961, that they were ending a three-year moratorium on nuclear testing. The rapid planning of very complex operations necessitated many changes as the project progressed.

All of the tests were to be launched on missiles from Johnston Island in the Pacific Ocean north of the equator. Johnston Island had already been established as a launch site for United States high-altitude nuclear tests, rather than the other locations in the Pacific Proving Grounds. In 1958, Lewis Strauss, then chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, opposed doing any high-altitude tests at locations that had been used for earlier Pacific nuclear tests. 

His opposition was motivated by fears that the flash from the nighttime high-altitude detonations might blind civilians who were living on nearby islands. Johnston Island was a remote location, more distant from populated areas than other potential test locations. To protect residents of the Hawaiian Islands from flash blindness or permanent retinal injury from the bright nuclear flash, the nuclear missiles of Operation Fishbowl were launched generally toward the southwest of Johnston Island so that the detonations would be farther from Hawaii.

Urraca was to be a test of about 1 megaton yield at very high altitude (above 1000 km). The proposed Urraca test was always controversial, especially after the damage caused to satellites by the Starfish Prime detonation, as described below. Urraca was finally canceled, and an extensive re-evaluation of the Operation Fishbowl plan was made during an 82-day operations pause after the Bluegill Prime disaster of July 25, 1962, as described below.

A test named Kingfish was added during the early stages of Operation Fishbowl planning. Two low-yield tests, Checkmate and Tightrope, were also added during the project, so the final number of tests in Operation Fishbowl was five. Tightrope was the last atmospheric nuclear test conducted by the United States, as the Limited Test Ban Treaty came into effect shortly thereafter.

Operation Dominic was a series of 31 nuclear test explosions ("shots") with a 38.1 Mt (159 PJ) total yield conducted in 1962 by the United States in the Pacific. This test series was scheduled quickly, in order to respond in kind to the Soviet resumption of testing after the tacit 1958–1961 test moratorium. Most of these shots were conducted with free fall bombs dropped from B-52 bomber aircraft. Twenty of these shots were to test new weapons designs; six to test weapons effects; and several shots to confirm the reliability of existing weapons. The Thor missile was also used to lift warheads into near-space to conduct high-altitude nuclear explosion tests; these shots were collectively called Operation Fishbowl.

Operation Dominic occurred during a period of high Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, since the Cuban Bay of Pigs Invasion had occurred not long before. Nikita Khrushchev announced the end of a three-year moratorium on nuclear testing on 30 August 1961, and Soviet tests recommenced on 1 September, initiating a series of tests that included the detonation of the Tsar Bomba. President John F. Kennedy responded by authorizing Operation Dominic. It was the last atmospheric test series conducted by the U.S., as the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow the following year.

The operation was undertaken by Joint Task Force 8.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) performed Operation DOMINIC II, an atmospheric nuclear test series, at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) from July 7 to 17, 1962. The test series included four low-yield shots, three of which were near-surface detonations and one a tower shot. Exercise IVY FLATS included one of the near-surface shots, fired from a DAVY CROCKETT rocket launcher.

The concept of "6,000 years to rule" refers to a prophetic understanding within Jewish and Christian traditions that the world will operate under human governance for approximately 6,000 years, followed by a 1,000-year era of divine rule, often associated with the return of the Messiah or a Messianic Age. This idea stems from the Genesis creation narrative, where each of the six days of creation is interpreted as symbolizing a thousand-year epoch, culminating in the seventh day of rest.

Origins of the Concept

The "Cosmic Week" Theory: The foundation of this concept is the interpretation of the Genesis account of creation as a prophetic blueprint. The six days of creation, followed by God's rest on the seventh day, are seen to represent 6,000 years of human history and a subsequent 1,000-year era of rest.

Biblical Support: The idea is supported by passages such as 2 Peter 3:8, which states, "But do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day," a verse often cited to link the six days of creation with 6,000 years of human history.

Jewish Tradition: The Talmud contains traditions that the world will exist for 6,000 years, followed by a thousand-year period known as the Millennial Sabbath or Messianic Era.

Implications and Beliefs

Human Rule and Divine Rule: Under this understanding, the 6,000 years of human history are seen as a period of human effort and rule, which is nearing its completion.

The Seventh Millennium: The subsequent 1,000-year period is expected to usher in a time of divine rule, peace, and righteousness, marking the end of human government and the beginning of Christ's rule under a Messianic Age.

A Time of Transformation: This transition is not expected to be gradual but rather marked by significant events, often described as "time of trouble" or the "footsteps of the Messiah" in Jewish tradition.

 Truth & Knowledge: Episode 82 – “Love Is a Commandment”

“Blessed and Alive – September 2, 2025” by Trey Knowles is an allegorical comedy that tells the story of a powerful yet corrupt ruler whose life is miraculously spared by God. Rather than responding with humility or mercy, the ruler chooses violence, taking the lives of others instead of valuing the grace he received. Through this symbolic parable, Trey Knowles blends spiritual commentary with humor, even connecting the message to his personal fear of fishing—joking that the devil does not spare lives but simply blows people out of the water.

The narrative continues as the ruler launches another missile strike on September 15, 2025, revealing an ongoing pattern of wickedness. Moving into 2026, the allegory portrays the ruler persisting in destructive actions, emphasizing the recurring cycle of power without repentance and mercy rejected despite divine warning.

🔑 Key Themes in the Routine Gratitude vs. Wickedness 🙏 Trey contrasts those who give glory to God for being spared with those who, despite being spared, show no mercy to others. Parable of the King 👑 The king survives a sniper’s bullet but vows to destroy others instead of sparing them. Trey uses this as a metaphor for leaders or powerful people who survive crises yet continue exploiting others. Personal Twist 🎣 After the heavy parable, Trey lightens the mood by joking about being afraid to go fishing with his friends—saying the devil doesn’t “spare lives” but “blows people out of the water.” This exaggeration ties back to the theme of life, death, and divine protection.

Trey Knowles’ “You” delivers a raw and honest message, calling out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. The song challenges listeners to examine whether their faith is genuine or just empty works—reminding us that without love, everything amounts to nothing.

Trey Knowles - "Open Press" Album Release 9/5/2025