A 16-year-old Illinois high school hockey player, Colin Brown, was tragically killed by a stray bullet while returning home from a game in St. Louis, as reported by NBC Chicago. The incident occurred on the evening of Nov. 23 on northbound Interstate 55 and Colin succumbed to his injuries on November 29. According to authorities, the gunfire is believed to have come from the opposite direction of traffic, but no arrests have been made thus far.
Colin was in the car with his father, a retired lieutenant colonel with Illinois State Police, and the moment was met with immediate intervention from off-duty first responders who were coincidentally behind them at the time, “Those first responders, those off-duty first responders, jumped in to help. That gave Colin one hell of a fighting chance," St. Louis police spokesman Mitch McCoy said in a statement obtained by NBC Chicago. McCoy also conveyed the gratitude of Colin's family toward law enforcement, the hockey community, and Colin's friends, and requested privacy for the bereaved family at this difficult time.
CBS News reports Lily Paniucki, a witness, heard Colin's dad shouting for help and she acted swiftly to perform CPR on Colin, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital; this heart-wrenching episode underscores the unpredictability of violence that so jarringly interrupts life. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mitch McCoy, mentioned that Brown's organs were donated, heralding the act as reflective of Colin's character and his family's altruistic nature, "This donation is an example of the type of young man Colin was and the kind of family he grew up in. Their steadfast commitment to serve those around them – should inspire us all," McCoy told CBS News.
A vigil attended by more than 200 people was held, and the St. Louis Blues are set to honor Colin with a moment of silence during their upcoming game as the hockey community, and beyond, mourns his passing – Colin's high school and hockey team disseminated statements extolling his academic prowess and his spirit of camaraderie and Missouri's Governor-Elect, Mike Kehoe, extended his condolences to Colin's family in a social media post, additionally critiquing the prevalent lawlessness in St. Louis, "Devastated to hear of the passing of Colin Brown, a 16-year-old who was tragically shot while riding home from his hockey game on I-55," Kehoe said, "The lawlessness plaguing St. Louis must stop, and the criminal responsible for this tragedy must be held accountable," as reported by CBS News.
St. Louis police continue urging the public to come forward with any information that may lead to closure for Colin's family and justice for this heinous act. No further updates on the investigation have been provided at this time, but officials stress collaboration among multiple agencies to address this demonstration of reckless disregard for human life.
