When Sam Linehan pulled into the Starbucks drive-thru on February 10, 2026, she expected to get her coffee and go on with her day. Instead, 58-year-old Keith Brown appeared out of nowhere and allegedly shot the 28-year-old figure skating coach. Linehan died from a gunshot wound, and Brown ran away. As news of the shooting spread in the St. Louis area, people realized the suspect might be connected to other crimes on the same street just days before. Now, residents want the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to explain how this happened.
KMOV reported that Brown approached Linehan in the Starbucks drive-thru on South Grand wearing a yellow safety vest and a hard hat. He allegedly demanded that she give him her belongings before shooting and killing her. Brown took off with Linehan’s bank cards and ID. Surveillance cameras captured the suspect, and police apparently realized he was the same person involved in earlier incidents the same week.
On February 6, Brown reportedly robbed a mother in the Jack in the Box drive-thru with her young daughter. The unidentified woman shared her scary story with KSDK. She claimed he put a gun to her head before robbing her.
“It a a big black gun, it looked like an AR, but I might be saying the wrong name of the gun, but that’s how it looked,” the mom recalled to the outlet. “(He said) ‘Give me everything you got.’ I looked, see the gun first. I looked up. I see the vest. I looked in his face.”
The mother gave Brown what she had and watched him run off. On February 8, Brown allegedly went into a Dollar General store on North Grand and robbed the cashier at gunpoint. In each instance, he wore a bright safety vest and hard hat, KSDK reported. The mom said she’s disappointed in the police for not releasing the surveillance footage sooner, as she believes all the female victims were targeted.
“My condolences. I hate that happened to her. I just wish the message would have got out before,” the mom added.
Police ultimately obtained a warrant and found several things at Brown’s home, including the vest, helmet, and gun he stole from the mom at Jack in the Box. They arrested him on murder charges.
The police department released a statement to KSDK about the robberies: “Any loss of life is tragic — and our thoughts remain with the victim’s loved ones as they navigate an unimaginable loss. Since Friday, our investigators have worked diligently to gather facts, analyze evidence and follow every available lead. Information can evolve as additional forensic results are received, surveillance video is reviewed, witnesses are interviewed, and investigative connections are confirmed,” it read.
“The SLMPD understands the public’s concerns — and the safety of our community is the top priority while monitoring for potential patterns and taking investigative steps methodically and responsibly,” the statement continued. “Our investigation remains active and ongoing.”
Those who loved Linehan will never understand why this happened to her. Metro Edge Figure Skating Club & St. Louis Synergy Synchro Skating Teams shared a message of love on Facebook.
“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 post reads in part.
What a heartbreaking loss for the community.
Brown is being held without bond. He faces charges of first-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, three counts of first-degree robbery, and unlawful possession of a weapon as a felon, per KMOV. If convicted, he’ll probably be in prison for the rest of his life, which is the perfect place for him.
