Inset: Keith Brown (St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department). Background: The Starbucks and its drive-thru on 2350 South Grand Blvd. in St. Louis, Missouri (Google Maps).
A Missouri man is facing serious charges after being accused of murdering and robbing a cherished figure skating coach at a Starbucks drive-thru shortly following several other armed robberies.
Keith Brown, 58, is charged with a range of offenses, including first-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, three counts of first-degree robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm. These details come from court records examined by Law&Crime. Brown is alleged to have killed 28-year-old Sam Linehan, according to a report from KSDK, a local NBC affiliate.
During a court hearing on Friday, the judge denied Brown’s request for bond.
The series of incidents began on February 6, when a mother and her daughter encountered a terrifying situation at a Jack in the Box drive-thru on 2163 South Grand Blvd. in St. Louis. According to the probable cause statement, Brown allegedly aimed a gun into their car, stealing a 9 mm handgun, the woman’s purse containing bank cards, and both of their cellphones.
Just two days later, Brown reportedly entered a Dollar General store about eight miles away, where he allegedly threatened a cashier with a firearm and demanded money. Police noted that Brown discharged his weapon during both of these incidents.
The situation escalated on Tuesday when Brown allegedly approached the Starbucks at 2350 South Grand Blvd. in St. Louis. Court documents indicate that Linehan was in her vehicle at the drive-thru when Brown purportedly approached, pointed a gun at her, and demanded she raise her hands before fatally shooting her. He is then accused of stealing her bank cards and driver’s license.
Surveillance footage captured all three incidents, authorities said, claiming Brown wore a neon safety vest and a hard hat during each robbery. When they executed a search warrant at his home, they found the vest and hat, as well as “stolen items” from the victims and “suspected narcotics.”
The probable cause statement adds that the defendant is a convicted felon for first-degree robbery “for which he has absconded while being on Parole.” He was taken into custody at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, according to KSDK.
Brown has a confined docket hearing scheduled for Thursday, and is set to have a preliminary hearing on March 11.
Linehan was a coach for the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club. The organization sent a message to its members about the loss.
“It is with deep sadness that I share heartbreaking news about Coach Sam,” the statement obtained by KSDK reads. “We were informed yesterday afternoon that Coach Sam died as a result of the shooting near Tower Grove. This is an unimaginable loss for our community, and we know this news will be difficult for many of our skaters and families to process.”
