Charges Detail Minneapolis Man’s Multi-County Crime Rampage, Fatal Shooting

Oct 25

A Minneapolis man now faces a range of felonies including second-degree murder after a violent multi-county rampage Tuesday.

The crime spree left one man dead, another man injured and several Minnesota communities shaken.

*A Life Link helicopter landing east of Lake Lillian to transport one of the gunshot victims on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.* ***Submitted***

Prosecutors say 25-year-old Ameer Musa Matariyeh fatally shot a 55-year-old man, seriously injured a 25-year-old man and led police on a dangerous, high-speed pursuit through Kandiyohi County before his eventual arrest.

According to a criminal complaint filed in court Thursday, the events began shortly before 1 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2024, at an apartment building on the 2900 block of Lyndale Avenue South, where Matariyeh allegedly fired multiple rounds from a balcony on the top floor. He was then able to flee the area in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee and there were no injuries.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed in a news conference that afternoon Matariyeh had been taken into custody near Willmar but more information on how he was able to flee the area of the southside apartment has not been released. Authorities are continuing to investigate the crime spree and its sequence of events. O’Hara said it’s believed to be related to a domestic dispute between the suspect and his ex-girlfriend, who share a child together.

Matariyeh’s first known stop occurred at a farmhouse along Highway 7 near Lake Lillian in Kandiyohi County. There, he allegedly shot a 25-year-old man—now also confirmed as a current McLeod County correctional officer—in the upper right shoulder. The victim’s wife told investigators she heard gunfire outside and saw her husband run in their home, bleeding. He said the suspect claimed “he would shoot someone if he couldn’t talk to his daughter,” the documents said. Matariyeh fled the farm site in a stolen white Chevy Malibu before authorities arrived and the shooting victim was airlifted to Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, where he is now in stable condition.

PREVIOUSLY: Suspect in Custody After String of Violence Ends in Kandiyohi Co.

Matariyeh sped away, continuing west on Highway 7, but now with officers having spotted him and in pursuit. Speeds reached up to 130 mph at times as Matariyeh weaved through traffic and used the shoulder in an attempt evade arrest. Officers reported their squad cars could not keep up with Matariyeh’s vehicle at points during the pursuit..

OnStar, an in-vehicle security and emergency services company that can be used by law enforcement to remotely disable stolen vehicles, was contacted to shut down the Malibu, but Matariyeh managed to stay ahead of law enforcement and continue driving until the vehicle was eventually disabled near the intersection of Highway 23 and 1st Street South in Willmar.

But before officers could apprehend him, Matariyeh reportedly attempted to steal another vehicle: a green pickup truck. Witnesses say he rear-ended the pickup to stop it, then approached the driver, now identified as Jerome Skluzacek, 55, of New London. According to the charging documents, Matariyeh raised a handgun and shot Skluzacek in the head. Officers arriving on scene found Skluzacek slumped over the steering wheel with a gunshot wound to the cheek. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Matariyeh was eventually cornered after fleeing on foot across Highway 23’s grassy median. Officers with ballistic shields closed in as Matariyeh raised his hands but kept a gun in his left hand and a phone to his ear. Negotiators had been in contact with Matariyeh several different times through the afternoon and he told them he intended to die by “suicide by cop.” After discarding his firearm in a ditch, Matariyeh was arrested without further incident.

While in the back seat of a squad car, Natariyeh reportedly said he “wanted to die” and that he had thrown his life away because his “girl” had cheated on him, the documents revealed.

Matariyeh has been formally charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault and fleeing a peace officer. If convicted of second-degree murder, he faces up to 40 years in prison. He remains in custody at the Kandiyohi County Jail, with bail now set at $3.5 million.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, The Hotline is available 24/7/365. Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), Chat: thehotline.org or Text: "START" to 88788

> See more of our latest coverage