Sam Linehan, a former Team USA figure skater who was killed in a shooting at a St. Louis Starbucks drive-thru, was remembered in tributes as a "cherished skater" and "dedicated leader." A man with a lengthy criminal history, Keith Lamon Brown, has been accused of shooting Linehan in an alleged robbery attempt.
"We are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of our beloved Coach Sam," the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club wrote on Facebook. Linehan was a former figure skater for Team USA, The New York Post reported. According to KSDK-TV, Linehan represented Team USA "as part of St. Louis Synergy’s junior synchronized skating team, winning silver at the 2014 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships." She was working as a figure skating coach when she was murdered.
In a news release, St. Louis police gave the victim's name as Gabrielle Linehan, but she was known to friends and family as Sam, according to multiple news reports. On February 10, 2026, just after 10 a.m., District 3 officers "responded to the 2300 block of S. Grand Ave for a shooting. When they arrived, they located a woman inside a vehicle in the drive-thru of Starbucks. She was not responsive and discovered to have a gunshot wound," St. Louis police wrote.
"EMS arrived and transported the 28-year-old woman to a hospital where she ultimately died from her injuries. Homicide detectives were requested and initiated an investigation."
Suspect Keith Lamon Brown Is Accused of Stealing 'Multiple Bank Cards' From Sam Linehan, Reports Say
Mugshot from St. Louis County
St. Louis police say that video evidence proved crucial to solving the case. "Surveillance cameras from the area captured the suspect responsible for the shooting fleeing the area on foot," they wrote in the news release.
"A 58-year-old man was located and arrested for this incident on February 11, 2025. He has been charged with one count of Murder 1st Degree, three counts of Robbery 1st Degree, four counts of Armed Criminal Action, and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm," the news release says. They previously released photos of the suspect wearing a construction vest.
Police believe that robbery is the motive, according to The Post, which reported that Keith Brown is accused of stealing "multiple bank cards and a driver’s license from Linehan before fleeing on foot."
According to Fox 2 Now, Keith Lamon Brown has a criminal history that "spans all the way back to 1986 on offenses such as burglary, robbery and armed criminal action."
He is also accused of two other robberies leading up to Linehan's death, at a Dollar General and Jack in the Box, Fox 2 Now reported.
The Figure Skating Club Called Sam Linehan's Death a 'Profoundly Heartbreaking Loss'
Coach Sam Linehan "was a cherished skater, coach, mentor, and friend whose impact reached far beyond the ice," the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club wrote. "A dedicated leader, Coach Sam devoted time and heart to supporting and developing skaters while instilling the values of discipline, teamwork, integrity, and resilience."
REST IN PEACE 🙏 Family, friends and coworkers are mourning the death of Sam Linehan, A skating coach and restaurant manager was killed in a Starbucks drive-thru. https://t.co/Yb98YinoB8 pic.twitter.com/IbX7PtGpc0
— 10 Tampa Bay News (@10TampaBay) February 12, 2026
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 club added. "Respect for the privacy of Sam’s family and loved ones is kindly requested as they grieve. Coach Sam will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always a part of this community."
A woman wrote in the comment thread, "My daughter woke up at 4:30 a.m. today and said she couldn't sleep. I asked her what was wrong, and she said, 'I miss Coach Sam so much.' We cried together... Sam had been coaching my daughter in synergy team for two years, she is always inspiring, caring, making skating so much fun. We loved Coach Sam, she was very special. Sam will be missed so much."
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/jHsFkyC
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