Guilty Plea Entered After Crime Spree Leaves 1 Dead on Willmar Highway

Aug 31

A Minneapolis man accused of opening fire in Kandiyohi County during a multi-county pursuit last fall has pleaded guilty to murder and related charges under a Norgaard plea.

He admitted the state had enough evidence to convict him even though he claims he cannot recall the details of the crimes.

> Sign up for the MN CRIME newsletter

Court records show 26-year-old Ameer Musa Matariyeh entered the plea Friday in connection with the October 22, 2024 incident that began in Minneapolis and ended in Willmar. He pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault causing great bodily harm, and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.

The charges stem from a violent spree that started in Minneapolis when Matariyeh fired several rounds from an apartment building balcony on the 2900 block of Lyndale Avenue South before fleeing west in a stolen car. Investigators say he shot and wounded an off-duty McLeod County corrections officer at a Lake Lillian farm site, then continued driving at speeds of more than 100 mph through Kandiyohi County while negotiating on the phone with Minneapolis police. OnStar eventually disabled the stolen vehicle. Before officers arrested him, Matariyeh shot and killed a man driving a pickup on Highway 23 and 1st Street South in Willmar.

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

According to the complaint, law enforcement officers saw Matariyeh point a handgun at the pickup driver and fire, striking him in the face. The victim, 55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek, was pronounced dead at the scene despite lifesaving efforts. The injured corrections officer survived after being airlifted for treatment.

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. He told police he wanted to die by “suicide by cop” and said he had “thrown his life away because a girl named Rachel cheated on him,” the complaint states.

READ MORE > Minneapolis coverage

By entering a Norgaard plea, Matariyeh acknowledged the evidence was overwhelming even though he claims he does not remember the shootings. Under Minnesota law, such pleas are allowed when defendants cannot recall the offense but do not assert innocence.

As part of the plea deal, Matariyeh pled guilty to second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Two other charges, first-degree assault and fleeing police in a vehicle, will be dismissed at sentencing. The agreement leaves the sentence length up to the judge. Prosecutors said they will ask for consecutive sentences, while Matariyeh’s attorneys will argue for concurrent terms.

He faces a maximum of 40 years in prison for the murder conviction and 20 years for the attempted murder. Sentencing is scheduled for late November.

> See more of our latest coverage