A promising young life was tragically cut short in Saint-Louis, MO, when 16-year-old Colin Brown, a male, fell victim to a senseless act of violence. On a Saturday night in November 2024, the teenage hockey player was riding in a vehicle with his father, a retired Illinois State Police lieutenant colonel, heading home from a hockey game. As they traveled northbound on Interstate 55 near Loughborough, gunfire erupted from the southbound lanes.
A stray bullet struck Colin, inflicting a critical injury. His father immediately sought help, and the young man was rushed to a local hospital. For four days, he fought for his life, but tragically succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. In a final act of generosity, his organs were donated, saving four other lives.
The community was left reeling from the loss of the beloved high school student and athlete. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, diligently working to piece together the events of that fatal night. Investigators located evidence of the shooting in the southbound lanes of the interstate, suggesting that the shots were not intended for Colin. Through witness testimony, the analysis of security footage, and the examination of cell phone location data, authorities began to close in on those responsible. The investigation led them to a dark-colored Audi believed to be connected to the shooting.
Within weeks, the investigation yielded its first significant breakthrough. In December 2024, Garrett Jordan and Donovan Baucom Jr. were arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. The trail of evidence did not end there. In March of the following year, a third suspect, Diamond Baucom, the sister of Donovan, was also indicted on murder charges. It was revealed that she had allegedly lent the Audi to her brother on the day of the incident. Investigators believe that Jordan and Donovan Baucom were in the Audi, following another vehicle southbound on I-55 when a rifle was fired from their car. A fourth suspect, James Roach, was indicted by a grand jury in June 2025 while he was in federal custody for an unrelated case. All four individuals now face a string of serious charges, including first-degree murder, first-degree assault, shooting from a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, and multiple counts of armed criminal action, as the legal process to bring justice for Colin Brown continues.
