A former Team USA synchronized skating medalist was fatally shot Tuesday morning in a Starbucks drive-thru in St. Louis, Missouri, in what authorities describe as an armed robbery carried out by a suspect with a lengthy criminal record who was already wanted in connection with two similar incidents, as reported by The New York Post.
Gabrielle “Sam” Linehan, 28, was sitting in her vehicle at the Starbucks located in the Tower Grove East neighborhood just after 10 a.m. when Keith Lamon Brown allegedly approached her car, according to a probable cause statement reviewed by The Post.
Police said Brown, 58, confronted Linehan at gunpoint before opening fire.
Nobody is safe.
” Gabrielle “Sam” Linehan, 28, was inside her car at the coffee hotspot in St. Louis’ Tower Grove East neighborhood when Keith Lamon Brown allegedly held her at gunpoint before opening fire just after 10 a.m. Tuesday,….”https://t.co/Zcz5rLcF8C
— Lily West (@LilyRoslynWest) February 13, 2026
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Surveillance footage captured Brown wearing a high-visibility vest and helmet as he walked up to Linehan’s vehicle, authorities said. He allegedly ordered her to raise her hands before shooting her.
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Linehan was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
At the time of her death, Linehan was working as a skating coach in nearby Webster Groves.
She had previously represented St. Louis Synergy and Team USA, earning a silver medal at the 2014 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, according to KSDK.
The St. Louis Synergy synchronized skating team, affiliated with the Metro Edge Skating Club, issued a public tribute to their former coach and teammate.
“Coach Sam Linehan was a cherished skater, coach, mentor, and friend whose impact reached far beyond the ice. A dedicated leader, Coach Sam devoted time and heart to supporting and developing skaters while instilling the values of discipline, teamwork, integrity, and resilience,” the team wrote on Instagram.
“This loss is both sudden and profoundly heartbreaking for athletes, staff, and the entire skating community. Focus remains on supporting Sam’s family and ensuring skaters have the care and resources needed during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement added.
Linehan’s longtime coach, Ramona Peterson, also spoke about her former student.
“She was by far one of the most naturally talented kids I had coached,” Peterson told KSDK. “But beyond that, she was incredibly dedicated.”
According to police, Brown allegedly stole multiple bank cards and Linehan’s driver’s license before fleeing the scene on foot.
He was arrested early Wednesday. Authorities announced that Brown has been charged with first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, four counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Brown was already wanted in connection with two armed robberies that occurred days before Linehan’s killing. Fox 2 Now reported that his criminal history dates back to the mid-1980s.
On Feb. 6, Brown, wearing the same high-visibility vest and helmet, allegedly approached a vehicle at a Jack in the Box drive-thru.
Court records state that he pointed a gun at the driver and stole the driver’s purse, a 9mm handgun, and the cellphone belonging to the driver’s daughter.
Two days later, Brown allegedly carried out another robbery at a Dollar General, where he demanded money from a cashier.
Police said the suspect fired at least three shots during each of the three robberies.
When officers arrested Brown, they recovered items stolen during the first and third robberies, along with the neon vest and helmet seen in surveillance footage. Authorities also reported seizing suspected narcotics during the arrest.
Brown is being held without bond at the St. Louis City Justice Center as the case proceeds.
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