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 at a South St. Paul residence on September 13, 2025, at approximately 3:45 a.m.
Terrell Anthony Ranzy, 19, of St. Paul, was charged Tuesday in Dakota County District Court with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and illegal gun possession in connection with the shooting. Criminal complaints indicate Lee was described by witnesses as an innocent bystander during the deadly encounter.
According to the criminal complaint, six people were gathered in the upstairs bedroom when Ranzy and Keith Brian Woodson Cox Jr., 20, of South St. Paul, began comparing their handguns. Woodson Cox left the room with two others and told them he planned to rob Ranzy when he returned. Upon re-entering the bedroom, Woodson Cox pointed his weapon at Ranzy and demanded he surrender his possessions.
The confrontation escalated when Ranzy fell backward onto a bed and fired once into the ceiling before discharging multiple rounds from a crouched position. The gunfire struck both Woodson Cox in the torso and arm, and Lee, who was caught in the crossfire. Police found 14 discharged casings of different calibers in the bedroom, suggesting both firearms were used during the shootout.
Officers responding to the 300 block of 2nd Avenue South found Lee’s body blocking the bedroom door. They pushed the door open and discovered Lee had been shot and lacked a pulse. A handgun was recovered from a table in the room. Woodson Cox was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Ranzy fled the scene immediately after the shooting, prompting a shelter-in-place alert for the neighborhood as law enforcement conducted a search. He attempted to re-enter the home to retrieve his cellphone but was unsuccessful. Officers located and arrested him approximately two hours later in a nearby shed. Ranzy remains jailed in lieu of $400,000 bail ahead of a September 25 court appearance.
The charges reveal Ranzy was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous conviction for making threats of violence in Ramsey County in January 2025. Woodson Cox faces charges of first-degree attempted aggravated robbery, with a warrant issued for his arrest.
Lee, an economics major from South St. Paul, was entering 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.
St. Olaf Head Coach James Kilian described Lee as having overcome adversity during high school while maintaining high academic and athletic performance. Kilian noted that Lee was a leader at South St. Paul High School and a dual-sport athlete who faced personal challenges but remained successful.
The coach characterized Lee as having a caring personality who connected well with teammates and was known for his work ethic. Kilian indicated that Lee was like a big teddy bear despite not being the largest player on the team, and his loss has been deeply felt throughout the program.
Kilian stated, “Matthew was just a great kid.”
The team held a prayer service Friday night that drew a large response from the campus community. St. Olaf College provided extensive support resources for players and staff following news of the shooting. Lee’s death was ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
The football program will honor Lee’s memory at their home game Saturday afternoon against Concordia College of Moorhead, their first game since his death. A moment of silence will be observed, and players will wear stickers with Lee’s number 42 on their helmets for the remainder of the season.
Teammates filled Lee’s locker with flowers as a tribute to the fallen player. The coach emphasized to his team the importance of honoring Lee through their future life choices, noting that Lee no longer has the opportunity to live his life.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist Lee’s family with funeral expenses. The fundraiser describes Lee as a devoted son and protective older brother whose presence brightened every room and whose care for others left a lasting impact on those who knew him.
St. Olaf College had won its season opener against the University of Northwestern and was on a bye week when the shooting occurred. The Division III school is known for its century-old football rivalry with crosstown neighbor Carleton College.