Charges: St. Olaf football player was ‘innocent bystander’ in botched robbery attempt that led to fatal shooting

A man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a St. Olaf College student and football player on Friday.

Terrell Anthony Ranzy, 19, faces one count of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree manslaughter and one count of illegal firearm possession.

Authorities were called to a home in South St. Paul overnight Friday on a report of an unresponsive 20-year-old.

RELATED: Victim of South St. Paul homicide identified as St. Olaf football player; suspect in custody

Officers were told the man was in an upstairs bedroom but had trouble opening the door because something was blocking it, according to a criminal complaint.

Once they got the door open a few inches, they saw that an unconscious person’s body had been blocking it. They also saw a large pool of blood.

Officers pushed the door open and found two men who had been shot. According to court documents, Matthew Lee, 20, was lying on the floor and had blood on his clothing. He was declared dead at the scene.

RELATED: ‘A tragic loss’: St. Olaf football player killed in South St. Paul was ‘great kid,’ coach says 

Another 20-year-old man was found suffering gunshot wounds to his arms and torso, and had a tourniquet on one of his arms.

Officers also found a handgun on a table in the room.

After speaking with witnesses, investigators learned that the two gunshot wound victims and Ranzy had been hanging out in a group that evening and went to the home in South St. Paul around 3 a.m.

The group was in the bedroom when Ranzy and the 20-year-old began comparing their guns. Court documents state that Ranzy’s was an “XD” with a black magazine and the 20-year-old’s was a Glock 19 with a tan magazine. The 20-year-old reportedly told Ranzy that he should always keep a round in the chamber.

A witness, the 20-year-old and Lee went into the bathroom together, and the 20-year-old told them he was going to rob Ranzy of his gun. Court documents state both Lee and the witness told him not to do it.

Despite their pleas, when they returned, the 20-year-old pulled out his gun and attempted to rob Ranzy of his gun. Ranzy fired his gun first into the ceiling and then at the group, hitting Lee and the 20-year-old. The witness saw both the 20-year-old and Ranzy firing their guns. Two people jumped out the window to avoid being shot.

The witness described Lee as an “innocent bystander” in the situation, court documents state.

While searching the bedroom, investigators found 14 total casings — including 9mm and 40 caliber casings, suggesting two guns had been fired.

Ranzy ran from the home after the shooting, prompting a brief shelter-in-place in the area, but was found in a nearby shed and arrested.

The court document notes that Ranzy is banned from possessing firearms due to being convicted of threats of violence in January.
The post Charges: St. Olaf football player was ‘innocent bystander’ in botched robbery attempt that led to fatal shooting first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.