Teen dies after stray bullet hits car in St. Louis

A 16-year-old teenager who was shot on Interstate 55 in St. Louis, Missouri, has died, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. He was hit by a stray bullet.

According to a police statement, Colin Brown was struck by what appeared to be a stray bullet while traveling in a vehicle with his father on Saturday evening. Brown’s father reported that someone had shot into the car and continued driving until he reached police and emergency medical services.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Brown, a junior at Christian Brothers College High School and hockey player, was on his way home from a hockey game in Affton at the time of the shooting.

Authorities confirmed that Brown died Wednesday after being in critical condition for several days.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that 16-year-old Colin Brown has died after being shot by a stray bullet on I-55 Saturday evening,” police spokesman Mitch McCoy said in a statement.

“Colin – a beloved and talented hockey player – has passed away, but not without the ultimate gift of life,” McCoy added. “Today Colin’s organs were donated to other patients in urgent need.”

Homicide investigators found evidence of gunfire in the southbound lanes of I-55 near Loughborough. The investigation is ongoing and no suspects have been identified.

McCoy called on the community for help. “We cannot emphasize enough how important it is for residents in the I-55 and Loughborough area to check their home’s surveillance cameras – which may have captured the shooting. We also ask anyone who was traveling on I-55 in the Loughborough area and witnessed a shooting or was in the area when the shooting occurred to call our detectives at 314-444-5371.”