St. Olaf College football player Matthew Lee killed in South St. Paul shooting

Matthew Lee, a junior linebacker for St. Olaf College, was fatally shot Friday in South St. Paul and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Another college student was injured in the same incident.

Police and local media described the victim as an unintended target in what investigators characterized as a shootout between two men. A 19-year-old suspect, identified by the Minnesota Star Tribune as Terrell Anthony Ranzy, was arrested a few blocks from the scene and has been charged with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and illegal gun possession, the newspaper reported.

Lee, 20, was a junior on the St. Olaf football team and had been listed as a linebacker. Team and school officials confirmed his death to local media; police have released limited details about the shooting while investigators continue to piece together the circumstances and a motive.

St. Olaf coach James Kilian remembered Lee as a leader and a hard worker. “He was a leader at South St. Paul High School, great student, dual-sport athlete,” Kilian said, according to CBS News. Kilian said Lee had overcome adversity and personal tragedy in high school and had shown resilience on and off the field. “His future and what he was able to do on and off the field,” Kilian said, “it’s just so sad that we’re not going to see what could have been. He just came to work every day, and I think he endeared himself to the team.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that investigators said Lee was an "innocent bystander" caught in the crossfire of the exchange between two other men. Details about the injured student, including the extent of injuries and whether that person remains hospitalized, were not immediately available. Police continue to question witnesses and review evidence from the scene.

Lee had appeared in two games last season while recovering from a torn medial collateral ligament, recording four tackles, according to team records. St. Olaf had a bye week following its season-opening victory over the University of Northwestern.

Community members and teammates expressed shock and grief as news of the shooting spread. A small college community, St. Olaf is based in Northfield, Minn., and fields a Division III football program. The school and local authorities have not released additional information about any possible connection between the victim and the suspect named in the charging documents.

Authorities have urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact the South St. Paul Police Department. The case remains under investigation, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue the charges reported by the Star Tribune as evidence is reviewed and court proceedings move forward.

The shooting adds to a broader pattern of gun violence and its impact on college communities, where students and local residents have sought answers and measures to improve public safety in the wake of high-profile incidents. St. Olaf officials did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment or confirm funeral arrangements.

As investigators continue their work, the St. Olaf football program and the wider college community are expected to hold vigils and offer support to Lee’s family, teammates and friends while awaiting further details from law enforcement and the local prosecutor’s office.