Suvechha Sarkar
Shane Anderson always dreamt of having a family of his own, so when he found love with his girlfriend, Alexandra Lee Pennig, lovingly known as Alex, they started planning a future together. However, their life took a tragic turn when she was brutally shot in her apartment in Downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, in December 2022. Her untimely demise left both her family members and Shane completely shattered. CBS’ ’48 Hours: The Strange Shooting of Alex Pennig’ delves deeper into the investigation of the case and how suspicions also fell on him. Through bodycam footage and interviews with the officials and Alex’s family members, the episode details the circumstances surrounding that fateful night.
Shane Anderson and Alex Pennig’s Dreams for a Future Together Shattered in December 2022
Shane Anderson and Alexandra Lee Pennig, fondly referred to as Alex, had been dating for four months when their lives turned upside down on December 16, 2022. Officers were alerted by Alex’s friend, Matthew Ecker, that she had shot herself. Since he was the only person present at the scene, he was the first to be questioned. He claimed that Alex called him to come to her apartment because she had gotten into a fight with Shane that had allegedly turned physical. He added that it seemed to him as if she were afraid of what her boyfriend would do. Therefore, he rushed over. Later that night, they went bar hopping, where they ended up bumping into Shane. The couple reportedly got into a heated exchange right there at a bar, and when Matthew got in between them, the former punched him right in the face.
Detectives consequently questioned Shane, who claimed that he and Alex spent nearly every day together, often lounging around with her two cats, Opie and Jax. He also claimed that although it was a bit early in the relationship, they were already talking about a future together because their values aligned. They both wanted families of their own, so they were starting to plan for it. He admitted that on December 15, 2022, they got into an argument about when Shane was going to move in with her, but he asserted there was no physical abuse. When he was questioned about the punched-in walls in the closet at Alex’s apartment, he confessed that he was responsible for them, but he insisted that he never hurt her. When Shane was asked about punching Matthew at the bar, he claimed that he was just angry, wondering why a man he didn’t know or recognize was with his girlfriend.
Eventually, a big break came in the case when forensic experts moved Alex’s remains and found a metal piece from the broken lock of her bathroom door under her head. Matthew had claimed that he broke the lock after Alex shot herself, but the evidence suggested otherwise. He was eventually arrested in December 2022 and formally charged with second-degree murder. He was convicted of the same charge on February 16, 2024, and sentenced to 30 years in prison on April 3, 2024. Despite his appeal to overturn his conviction, the court upheld the judgment in April 2025. Recalling their last meeting at the bar, Shane expressed with grief, “I had no idea that that was gonna be the last time I ever saw her.” According to him, he completely imagined being with her till the end.
Shane Has Focused on His Career as a Bartender and Lives a Quiet Life Today
Despite his devastating loss, Shane Anderson never allowed the tragedy to define his life. He chose to move forward with the purpose of building a life marked by hard work and perseverance. He pursued higher education at Century College, completing general studies and earning an Associate of Arts degree. He continued his academic path at Anoka-Ramsey Community College to pursue general studies. However, he stepped into the professional world in June 2005 as a Delivery Specialist for Slumberland Furniture, a role he held until April 2008. The following month, Shane became an Installation Consultant at Fluid Interiors, serving there till August 2009.
From April to October 2010, Shane served in the role of a Park Manager for the City of Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, before transitioning into the sales world. He worked at Puma SE as a Sales Representative from September 2012 to May 2013. Following that, he joined Sprint in the position of a Sales Consultant, where he served till May 2014. Shane then stepped into a new path as a Data Entry Specialist for SportsData, LLC in April 2015. Over the next few years, Shane held many roles, such as a Sales Lead at Oakley and the Bartender position at the establishments— Wild Onion Bar & Restaurant, Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport – Mall of America, Town & Country Club, and Pillbox Tavern.
In March 2021, Shane became a Bartender at Ox Cart Ale House, where he diligently served till February 2022. Following that, he took on the same position at InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront, where he showcased his skills until December of the same year. As of writing, Shane is working as a Bartender at the Delta Sky Lounge at MSP International Airport under the Compass Group. While his professional life reflects resilience and consistency, he has decided to lead his personal life away from the public eye. Although the pain of losing Alex will never fully disappear, Shane appears to be moving forward with immense strength and hopes of healing.
Read More: Where is Matthew Ecker’s Family Now?
