Colin Brown, a 16-year-old high school hockey player, died on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, after being struck by a stray bullet while driving home with his father from a game. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, on Interstate 55 near Loughborough Avenue in South St. Louis, Missouri.
Brown, a sophomore at Christian Brothers College High School (CBC), had recently transferred from Illinois and was seven games into the season with his new team. He was known for his dedication on and off the ice, enrolling in honors courses and quickly becoming a valuable CBC Varsity Hockey team member.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the incident, which they believe may have been the result of a rolling gunfight in the southbound lanes of I-55, with the Browns traveling northbound. Detectives are reviewing footage from the area and have appealed to the public for information. “This type of violence is not going to be tolerated by us,” stated Mitch McCoy, Director of Public Affairs for the department. “We want people to feel safe driving on the interstate and in the city of St. Louis.”
In response to the tragedy, the St. Louis Blues hockey team honored Brown by wearing “72 Strong” pins—representing his jersey number—and placing a hockey stick outside their locker room during Wednesday night’s game. The team’s coaching staff donned the pins to celebrate Brown’s life and show solidarity with his family and teammates.
His father, Calvin Brown, thanked the St. Louis Police and Illinois State Police for their ongoing efforts to identify those responsible for the crime against his son, while emphasizing the need for St. Louis officials to provide stronger support for law enforcement.
Drawing from his 28 years of experience in law enforcement, he stressed that the city and surrounding areas must do more to support police and ensure they have the resources needed to address violent gun crimes effectively.
By August 2024, St. Louis reported 106 homicides, a slight decrease from 109 during the same period in 2023. This reflects a nearly 40 percent drop in homicides since Mayor Tishaura O. Jones took office in April 2021.
While city officials have credited community engagement efforts, targeted policing, and crime prevention programs for the decline, the shooting death of Colin Brown highlights the continued challenges. Mayor Jones described the loss as devastating, expressing her grief as a mother of a teenage son and reaffirming her administration’s focus on reducing violent crime.
Vigils and memorials have been held in his honor, with friends and family remembering him as a dedicated student, athlete, and friend. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek justice for Colin Brown.
