On January 9, 2026, officers of the South Saint Paul Police Department responded to a report of a fight that occurred at a bar located in the City of South Saint Paul, Dakota County, Minnesota. Call reports indicated that an individual at the bar was bleeding from their eye, had fought a bar tender, and had punched multiple people. Officers arrived and observed multiple people holding an individual down who was identified as Lee Murray McCoy Jr, born on [DOB REDACTED]. Officers placed Mr. McCoy into handcuffs and observed that he was bleeding from his face, a wound below his right eye, and a swollen area below his right eye.
Officers spoke with Mr. McCoy who stated that he had only had one beer while at the bar and that he had been attacked while trying to leave. Officers had medics assess Mr. McCoy and during this Mr. McCoy was argumentative and officers noted that he had slurred speech and that there was a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his person. Further, officers noted that Mr. McCoy spoke to them and later medical staff using derogatory terms, slurs, and offensive language. Officers also noted that Mr. McCoy’s vehicle was running nearby, and Mr. McCoy stated that he had been getting into his vehicle to leave when the assault occurred.
Officers had Mr. McCoy transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Officers spoke with multiple victims who reported having been assaulted by Mr. McCoy. Officers spoke with Witness 1 who reported that Mr. McCoy had asked to borrow her lighter and then when he did not return, he was observed in the driver’s seat of a vehicle outside the bar and appeared to be “passed out.” Witness 1 knocked on Mr. McCoy’s window in an attempt to get her lighter back and Mr. McCoy denied having her lighter and began yelling profanities.
Victim 1, who is an employee of the bar, then informed Mr. McCoy that he had to leave and Witness 1 observed Mr. McCoy and Victim 1 physically fighting. Mr. McCoy then left his vehicle and began punching Victim 2 in the face, who was an individual attempting to break up the fight. Victim 2 reported that he had gone outside when he heard Victim 1 was in a fight and that he heard Mr. McCoy stating to others to let him at Victim 1. Victim 2 reported that he had believed that the incident was deescalated when Mr. McCoy punched Victim 2 in the left chin and jaw area with a right fist.
Victim 3 then approached and was hit by Mr. McCoy and fell to the ground. Victim 2 reported that Mr. McCoy then continued to punch Victim 3 while he was on the ground four to five times before bystanders pinned Mr. McCoy to the ground. An additional witness reported that Mr. McCoy had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages at the bar. Officers observed that Victim 2 and Victim 3 appeared to be bleeding from their mouths, and both stated that they had been struck by Mr. McCoy. 2 19HA-CR-26-44 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 1/12/2026 Officers began processing Mr. McCoy and observed that his mouth and lips appeared to be covered in a white, foamy saliva and that he smelled strongly of a consumed alcoholic beverage.
