Matthew Lee, a 20-year-old junior linebacker at St. Olaf College, was fatally shot during a confrontation between two armed men in a crowded bedroom of a South St. Paul home on September 13, 2025, at approximately 3:45 a.m.
Terrell Anthony Ranzy, 19, of St. Paul, has been charged with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and illegal gun possession in connection with the shooting that also wounded another man, Keith Brian Woodson Cox Jr., 20, of South St. Paul. Ranzy remains jailed in lieu of $400,000 bail ahead of a court appearance scheduled for September 25.
According to the criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Dakota County District Court, officers responded to the home in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue South regarding concerns about a man not breathing. When they arrived, Lee’s body prevented them from opening the bedroom door more than a few inches. After pushing the door open, officers found Lee had been shot and lacked a pulse.
Witnesses described the events leading up to the shooting, telling police that six people were gathered in the small bedroom, which contained a bed, desk, dresser and other items. Ranzy and Woodson Cox were comparing their handguns when Woodson Cox suggested that Ranzy should keep a round in the chamber. Woodson Cox then left the room with two others and told them he was going to rob Ranzy when he returned.
Upon returning to the bedroom, Woodson Cox aimed his gun at Ranzy and ordered him to surrender his weapon. The complaint states that Ranzy fell backward onto the bed and fired once into the ceiling before shooting multiple times from a crouched position. The gunfire struck both Woodson Cox in the torso and arm, and Lee, who witnesses described as an innocent bystander.
Police found 14 discharged casings of differing calibers in the bedroom, indicating that both guns had been fired during the confrontation. Ranzy fled the scene immediately after the shooting, prompting a brief shelter-in-place alert for the neighborhood as law enforcement searched the area. He attempted unsuccessfully to re-enter the home to retrieve his cellphone before officers captured him in a nearby shed approximately two hours later.
The charges reveal that Ranzy was previously convicted in Ramsey County last year of threats of violence, which legally prohibits him from possessing firearms. Woodson Cox has been charged with first-degree attempted aggravated robbery for his role in the incident, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Lee, an economics major from South St. Paul, was in his third season with the football team after playing linebacker for the previous two years. He had been recovering from an MCL tear suffered last season and appeared in two games, recording four tackles. Head Coach James Kilian said, “Matthew was just a great kid.”
Kilian indicated that Lee had overcome significant adversity in high school while maintaining his academic and athletic performance. The coach described Lee as having a caring personality who connected well with his teammates, despite not being the largest player on the squad. Kilian characterized him as resembling a big teddy bear and noted that Lee’s loss has been deeply felt by the team.
The St. Olaf College community responded with an outpouring of support following news of Lee’s death. The school held a prayer service Friday night that drew a large attendance from the campus community. Athletic department resources were immediately made available to players and staff members struggling with the loss.
A moment of silence in Lee’s memory was observed at the team’s home game Saturday afternoon against Concordia College of Moorhead, marking the first game since his death. Players wore stickers with Lee’s number 42 affixed to their helmets, a tribute that will continue for the remainder of the season.
Teammates filled Lee’s locker with flowers as a memorial gesture. The coach emphasized to his players that the best way to honor Lee’s memory would be through the choices they make in their lives going forward, since Lee no longer has that opportunity.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist Lee’s family with funeral expenses. The fundraiser describes Lee as a devoted son to his mother, Jody Clark, and a protective older brother whose presence brightened every room he entered.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled Lee’s death a homicide. South St. Paul police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ask anyone with information to contact them at 651-413-8300 or email tips@sspmn.org.
