Colin Brown

Colin Brown was a sixteen year old high school hockey player from the St. Louis, Missouri area whose death became a rallying point for a city's grief and, later, for a long running criminal case that reached a new milestone on October 1, 2026, when a second defendant pleaded guilty to his murder.

Brown was <cite index="7-8">a hockey player and an honor student at CBC</cite>, Christian Brothers College High School, and he also played club hockey for the Affton Americans. On the night of November 23, 2024, he was <cite index="1-2">shot while riding in a car with his dad after a hockey game at the Affton Ice Rink</cite>, struck by gunfire on Interstate 55 near Loughborough and Bates in south St. Louis, and <cite index="1-4">police said they believe a stray bullet hit him</cite>. A bystander who happened to be nearby that night told a local news crew she jumped in to help after hearing Brown's father shouting, and she performed CPR on Brown for nearly twenty minutes before paramedics arrived.

Brown was hospitalized in critical condition and died four days later. A St. Louis police spokesperson announced his death at a news conference, saying <cite index="1-8">it is with a heavy heart I share with you that 16-year-old Colin Brown has died after being shot by a stray bullet Saturday night on I-55</cite>. The spokesperson also said Brown's organs had been donated, and the Brown family said in a statement that <cite index="1-10">Colin was a helper and who wanted to be a doctor</cite>, so his family found comfort in knowing his organ donation might give someone else a chance at life.

His death prompted an outpouring of grief across the St. Louis hockey community. The CBC varsity team played its first game after his death, against De Smet, and his club coach recalled that <cite index="2-6">his memory, his legacy is moving on with us, and we're going to feel his presence</cite>. The St. Louis Blues also paid tribute, holding a moment of silence before a home game. Hundreds of mourners attended his funeral, which was held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis following a visitation at his high school.

Investigators later concluded that the bullet that killed Brown had not been meant for him or his father, with court records indicating the gunfire stemmed from a dispute connected to people already under federal investigation at the time. Four people were eventually charged over the shooting: Donovan Baucom, Diamond M. Baucom, <cite index="7-9">James Roach and Garret Jordan</cite>.

The case moved slowly through the St. Louis courts over the following two years. Donovan Baucom became the first defendant to plead guilty, admitting in September 2026 to second-degree murder and related charges. On October 1, 2026, <cite index="7-2">a second person has pleaded guilty in the shooting death of Colin Brown</cite>, as Diamond Baucom admitted to <cite index="7-3">second-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and three counts of armed criminal action</cite>; court documents state he had admitted to driving an Audi suspected of being involved in the shooting, and <cite index="7-6">Diamond and Donovan Baucom will both be sentenced on March 1</cite>. James Roach and Garret Jordan remained charged and their cases were still pending as of that date.