In a shocking and devastating incident, 16-year-old Colin Brown, a rising star in the St. Louis high school hockey scene, tragically lost his life after being hit by a ricochet while driving home with his father. The incident occurred Saturday night on Interstate 55 in South St. Louis while Colin was in the passenger seat of his father’s car. Despite being rushed to hospital and receiving critical care, Colin succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday afternoon.
Colin Brown was known not only for his exceptional hockey skills, but also for his compassionate nature. In a heartbreaking twist, even in death, he continued to make a positive impact by donating his organs to save the lives of others in need. Mitch McCoy, public information director for the St. Louis Metro Police Department, praised Colin’s selflessness and said his organ donation reflected the example of the kind-hearted young man he was and the values instilled in him by his family.
Before attending Christian Brothers College High School (CBCHS), one of the most prestigious hockey programs in Missouri, Colin had transferred from Illinois just this fall. He had already played seven games for CBCHS and had quickly become an integral part of their varsity hockey team. A talented and dedicated student enrolled in Honors courses, Colin was highly regarded both on and off the ice.
Authorities have launched an intensive investigation into the incident and are reviewing surveillance videos from the area as they search for the suspected shooter. Police believe there may have been a rolling gunfight nearby as Colin and his father were driving in the opposite direction on Interstate 55.
Astonished by this senseless act of violence against an innocent teenager leaving a hockey game, Director McCoy assured the community that such acts would not be tolerated. He emphasized the Police Department’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all St. Louis residents and visitors and expressed its determination to hold those responsible accountable.
The tragic loss of Colin Brown has sent ripples beyond his immediate community, with even the coaching staff at NHL St. Louis Blues paid tribute to him. They wore “72 Strong” pins in honor of Colin’s jersey number and left a hockey stick outside their locker room to show solidarity and support for his grieving family and teammates.
While Colin’s family thanked law enforcement for their efforts, they also called for greater support for police to combat violent gun crimes like this. Calvin Brown, Colin’s father and a former law enforcement officer with over 28 years of experience, called on St. Louis officials to invest more resources in equipping police with necessary tools to combat such senseless acts.
This heartbreaking incident highlights a larger problem plaguing St. Louis – the alarming rate of homicides in recent years. Although there has been a slight decrease in 2024 compared to last year, with 106 homicides recorded through August, city officials acknowledge that more needs to be done to address this ongoing problem. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones expressed sadness over the loss of Colin Brown and emphasized the need for collective mourning and reflection on how to prevent further tragedies.
As St. Louis mourns the loss of an extraordinary young talent like Colin Brown, this serves as a stark reminder that no community is immune from senseless acts of violence. It is imperative that both local authorities and residents come together to prioritize public safety and find effective solutions to make incidents like this a thing of the past.
