Court records describe threats, a chase and a fatal knife attack outside a Catholic Charities residence in Cold Spring.

COLD SPRING, Minn. — A 33-year-old resident of a central Minnesota group home has been charged with second-degree murder after authorities said he chased and fatally attacked an employee outside the residence on June 27.

Luke Patrick McLane is accused of killing Glapoujay Garmondeh, 30, at the St. Luke Home in the 400 block of Eighth Avenue North. The residence is operated by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud and provides housing services for adults with disabilities. McLane was arrested at the scene and remains in custody as the criminal case moves through Stearns County District Court. The allegations are contained in a criminal complaint and have not been proven at trial.

Cold Spring police officers were sent to the home at about 8:30 p.m. after callers reported a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found Garmondeh on the ground outside the residence with serious injuries. Emergency responders attempted to help him, but he stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that he died from multiple sharp-force injuries and classified the death as a homicide, according to local reporting on the court records.

The complaint describes an attack that witnesses said began after McLane directed threats toward Garmondeh. People at the home told investigators that McLane ran after the employee while carrying a knife. Witnesses said McLane caught up with Garmondeh outside, forced him to the ground and threatened to kill him. Surveillance video also recorded the confrontation, according to the charging documents. Authorities have not publicly identified what caused the dispute or released a confirmed motive for the attack.

Officers arrived as the violence was ending and saw McLane near Garmondeh, according to reports based on the complaint. Police said McLane had blood on his clothing and was holding a knife. The documents allege that officers heard him tell the injured employee, “I told you I was going to do it.” Witnesses also reported hearing a similar statement when they confronted McLane. Those remarks are allegations attributed to the complaint and have not been tested through testimony in court.

McLane was taken into custody without a prolonged search or manhunt. Prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder involving a dangerous weapon, an accusation that requires the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. A conviction has not been entered, and McLane is presumed innocent unless proved guilty. Court proceedings are also expected to address whether he is competent to understand the case and assist with his defense after a judge ordered an evaluation shortly after the charge was filed.

A competency examination does not decide whether a defendant committed an offense. It is used to determine whether the person can understand the court process and communicate with an attorney. If a defendant is found incompetent, the criminal case can be paused while treatment or further evaluation takes place. If the person is later restored to competency, the prosecution may resume. Publicly available reports did not state the result of McLane’s evaluation as of Tuesday.

The criminal complaint is expected to remain the central account of the state’s allegations unless prosecutors file additional evidence or witnesses testify in court. It includes statements from people at the residence, observations made by responding officers, evidence recovered at the scene and references to surveillance video. The complete video has not been publicly released, and authorities have not announced whether other recordings, emergency calls or forensic reports will become part of the public case file.

Garmondeh’s family said he was working part time at the home in addition to holding a full-time engineering job. Relatives said he took the extra shifts to support his wife and two young children, help pay for their education and send money to an older sister. His family called him Jay and described him as a devoted father who cared deeply about the people he served. He was killed three days before what would have been his 31st birthday.

Garmondeh was born in Liberia and later moved with his family to Oregon, where he developed interests in academics and sports. He earned an engineering degree and moved to Minnesota, where he worked in his field. He also played for the East Coast Stars, an amateur soccer team based in Brooklyn Park. His twin brother, Glapougbae Garmondeh, said the family was struggling to understand the sudden loss and the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Catholic Charities President and CEO Aaron Fisk said the organization was devastated by the employee’s death. The nonprofit said it was supporting employees and others affected by the killing while cooperating with the law enforcement investigation. Catholic Charities also began an internal review. The organization has declined to discuss some operational details, citing the continuing police inquiry, its review and privacy limits concerning people receiving services at the home.

Later reporting raised questions about staffing at St. Luke Home on the night of the killing. A schedule obtained by CBS Minnesota indicated that Garmondeh was assigned to work alone during consecutive shifts. Catholic Charities did not confirm that characterization but said the residence was staffed as scheduled and that the level of support was consistent with the approved plan in place at the time. Fisk told Cold Spring officials that three clients were at the home that night and that the organization considered a one-to-three staffing ratio appropriate for the location.

McLane is scheduled for a remote court hearing in August. Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed a motive, and the defense has not presented its account of the events. The criminal case, competency process, police investigation and Catholic Charities review remain pending.

Author note: Last updated July 28, 2026.