UPDATED: Suspect Arrested Following Early Morning Homicide in South St. Paul
Updated - September 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Provided by the GoFundMe.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has officially identified the victim who was fatally shot early Friday morning, September 12, 2025, in a shooting in South St Paul as 20-year-old Matthew Robert Lee. The manner of his death was ruled a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds.
A family member set up a GoFundMe for Matthew Lee, with the funds said to go to his mother. In the GoFundMe, Matthew Lee was said to be a proud graduate of South Saint Paul High School and a dedicated student-athlete at St. Olaf College. If you wish to help the family, you can donate to their GoFundMe, here: Remembering Matthew Lee: Your Help Matters.
ORIGINAL STORY - SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA—A deadly shooting in South St. Paul early Friday morning has left one man dead and another critically injured, prompting a large-scale law enforcement response and a temporary shelter-in-place for nearby residents. Authorities have since confirmed that a suspect is in custody.
Shooting Reported on 2nd Avenue South
At approximately 3:45 a.m., officers with the South St. Paul Police Department responded to a call regarding a medical emergency at a residence in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue South. When officers arrived, they discovered that a shooting had taken place inside the home. Two adult men were located with apparent gunshot wounds.
One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities have not yet updated his condition.
Rough location of the Shooting.
Shelter-in-Place and Search for Suspect
During the initial response, police believed the suspect had fled the scene on foot. Out of caution, residents in the immediate area were asked to remain indoors while officers established containment and conducted a search. Multiple agencies, including Inver Grove Heights, Hastings, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, St. Paul, and West St. Paul Police Departments, along with Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices, assisted in the effort.
By 5:45 a.m., officers located and arrested a suspect in the 500 block of 1st Avenue South without incident. Authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order around 6:30 a.m., stating they no longer believed there was an ongoing threat to public safety. We will update this story with the shooter’s information once it has been confirmed and released.
Flight tracker showing Minnesota State Patrol Helicopter circling the area and helping search for shooting suspect.
Investigation Underway
Investigators from the South St. Paul Police Department are working closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to determine what led to the shooting and to collect evidence from the scene. The identity of the deceased will be released following an autopsy and official confirmation by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office.
South St. Paul Police encourage anyone with information related to this incident to contact investigators at (651) 413-8300 or submit tips by email at tips@sspmn.org.
Police emphasized that the case remains an active investigation, and no additional details are available at this time.
Written By: Will Wight
