St. Paul Saints mourn death of beloved beer vendor who was shot outside bar

The St. Paul Saints are mourning the death of a beloved beer vendor who’s been with the team since it opened its new ball park 10 years ago.

Jeffrey S. Matson, 43, of Brooklyn Park, was shot shortly after midnight Thursday in front of the Midway Saloon in the 1500 block of University Avenue in the Midway neighborhood, police said Tuesday.

Davarius L. Clark, 31, of Minneapolis, was charged Friday in Ramsey County District Court with two counts of second-degree murder. Clark remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail. He’s due back in court on Thursday. Court records do not list an attorney for him.

Saints President Derek Sharrer told the Minnesota Star Tribune that Matson was a vendor at CHS Field since its inaugural Opening Day in 2015 until the day he died.

“His voice was recognizable to all who attended games and events at CHS Field, and he will be missed as gates open before every home game,” Sharrer said.

According to the charges:

Clark shot Matson in the chest while the two argued. Matson was taken by emergency medical responders to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead

The manager told investigators the argument started when Matson brought his bike into the bar with management’s approval.

Clark said Matson spat on him multiple times, a contention that was backed up by surveillance footage from outside the bar. Moments later, Clark shot Matson outside the bar.