Minnesota College Football Player Matthew Lee Shot and Killed in St. Paul Shooting

The St. Olaf College community is mourning the loss of junior linebacker Matthew Lee, who was tragically killed in a shooting early Friday morning in South St. Paul.

According to the South St. Paul Police Department, officers responded to a home on the 300 block of 2nd Avenue South around 3:45 a.m. When they arrived, they found two adult men with gunshot wounds. One victim, later identified as Lee, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was transported to the hospital for treatment. Police confirmed that a suspect was located and arrested within two hours of the incident. Investigators are still working to determine what led to the shooting.

St. Olaf officials notified students in an email Friday, confirming Lee’s death and announcing a candlelight vigil in his honor. The vigil will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Boe Chapel, giving students, teammates, and faculty the chance to come together in remembrance.

“We encourage each member of this community to lead with kindness and look after each other,” the email read.

James Kilian, St. Olaf’s head football coach, said the news was heartbreaking.

“The greatest fear is like the death of a child, and that’s how we see our players,” Kilian said. He described Lee as “an awesome kid, an awesome person.”

In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe has been set up to support Lee’s family during this difficult time.