In the early morning hours of December 23, 2018, a tragic discovery was made in a north St. Louis neighborhood, shattering the holiday season for two families. The life of Kevin Brown, a 25-year-old Black man, was cut short in a brutal act of violence that also claimed the life of his companion, 25-year-old Briauna Henley. The incident was one of several fatal shootings that plagued the city during a violent Christmas weekend.
Police were called to the 1200 block of Aubert Avenue, just
north of Fountain Park, at approximately 4:06 a.m. There, they found a grim scene. Briauna Henley was discovered shot to death in the driver's seat of a vehicle. Miraculously, a three-year-old girl who was also inside the car was physically unharmed. Not far from the vehicle, Kevin Brown was found lying in the street, also a victim of fatal gunshot wounds.
The double homicide was a somber addition to the city's crime statistics for the year. In the immediate aftermath of the discovery, law enforcement officials stated they had not identified a suspect and did not have information regarding a potential motive for the killings. Investigations into the deaths of Kevin Brown and Briauna Henley were launched, but details regarding any persons of interest or potential leads have not been made publicly available in the years since the incident.
As of now, the case of who is responsible for the deaths of Kevin Brown and Briauna Henley remains unresolved. There have been no public announcements regarding any arrests made or suspects identified in connection with the double murder. The lack of resolution leaves a painful void for the families and community, a story without an ending and a quest for justice that continues.
