A skating coach and former U.S. Figure Skating competitor was shot and killed in a Starbucks drive-thru in St. Louis on Tuesday morning by a man suspected of committing two other robberies in the days leading up to the slaying.
Gabrielle "Sam" Linehan was in the car at 2030 S Grand Blvd when a man fatally shot the 28-year-old and stole her bank cards and driver's license at around 10 a.m., police said.
Keith Brow, 58, was taken into custody the next day on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, four counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm connected to Linehan's death and robberies involving three other victims.
"This loss is both sudden and profoundly heartbreaking for athletes, staff, and the entire skating community," president of Metro Edge Figure Skating Club wrote in a statement to NBC News. "Coach Sam will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always a part of this community."
Linehan represented U.S. Figure Skating with the St. Louis Synergy, which is Metro Edge Figure Skating Club's team, as a member of the junior team that won a silver medal at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in 2014, U.S. Figure Skating spokesperson Kristen Henneman said.
Police said Brown was allegedly involved in at least two other incidents in the days leading up to the shooting of Linehan. On Feb. 6, he held up a mother and daughter at gun point at a drive-thru. Two days later, he pointed his gun at a cashier and demanded money. According to the police, surveillance videos from all the incidents show Brown firing shots and wearing the same neon safety vest and white helmet.
Police said they conducted a search warrant at Brown's residence, where they discovered items from Linehan and other victims, along with his safety vest and helmet.
Brown appeared for a court hearing on Friday at 1 p.m. local time.
Asked about why alerts weren't sent after multiple incidents occurred, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement to NBC News: "Information can evolve as additional forensic results are received, surveillance video is reviewed, witnesses are interviewed, and investigative connections are confirmed."
"Any loss of life is tragic — and our thoughts remain with the victim's loved ones as they navigate an unimaginable loss," the statement said. "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. Our investigation remains active and ongoing.”
Starbucks did not respond to requests for comment.
