A well-known figure skating coach and silver medalist at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships was shot and killed at a Starbucks drive‑thru in St. Louis this week, allegedly by a suspect connected to a series of armed robberies throughout the city.
Gabrielle “Sam” Linehan, 28, had been waiting in her car at the South City Starbucks in the Tower Grove East area shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, when 58-year-old Keith Lamon Brown allegedly approached wearing a reflective vest and helmet, threatened her with a gun, and opened fire.
Authorities say surveillance footage shows Brown walking up to Linehan’s vehicle, instructing her to raise her hands, and then shooting. Linehan was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Brown reportedly stole several bank cards and her driver’s license before running away.
That night, a SWAT team executed a search warrant at Brown’s residence and arrested him around 11:00 p.m. Police stated he was armed when taken into custody. On Wednesday, he was formally charged with first-degree murder, multiple counts of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He is currently being held without bond at the St. Louis City Justice Center.
Brown’s criminal record dates back nearly 40 years. In November 1986, he received a 15-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to robbery, burglary, and armed criminal action. He was later convicted of first-degree robbery in 1996 and sentenced to 30 years. Court documents note he had “absconded while being on parole.”
Before the deadly shooting, Brown was already suspected in two armed robberies earlier in the week. On February 6, police say he walked up to a car in a Jack in the Box drive‑thru on South Grand Boulevard, aimed a gun at the driver, and took a purse, a 9mm handgun, and the phones of the driver and her daughter. Two days later, he allegedly entered a Dollar General on North Grand, pointed a gun at a cashier, and left with cash. Officers report he fired shots in both incidents.
After Brown’s arrest, investigators recovered the stolen items from both the Jack in the Box and Starbucks robberies, along with the reflective vest, hard hat, and suspected drugs.
Linehan’s death has left the St. Louis skating community heartbroken. She was a coach for the Metro Edge Skating Club’s St. Louis Synergy team near Webster Groves, having been involved with the group for years as both a skater and mentor. In 2014, she helped her synchronized skating team win a silver medal at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. Her biography also highlights her gold medal in Skating Skills.
The Metro Edge Skating Club honored her memory, calling her “a cherished skater, coach, mentor, and friend whose impact reached far beyond the ice.” They noted their priority is supporting her family and providing resources for skaters during this difficult time.
Ramona Peterson, a longtime coach who trained Linehan, spoke of her remarkable talent. “She was by far one of the most naturally talented kids I had coached,” Peterson told KSDK. “But beyond that, she was incredibly dedicated.”
Skaters at the Webster Groves Ice Rink returned Thursday night, mourning their coach while trying to continue their routines.
Outside the rink, Linehan was also known for her contributions to the St. Louis food scene. She worked as general manager at Sado, the acclaimed sushi restaurant on the Hill, and had previously been part of the Yellowbelly team in the Central West End, where she began working at age 21.
The owner of Yellowbelly spoke of the tremendous loss, noting that Linehan spent more than five years with the restaurant and played a key role in earning numerous awards and accolades. Sado owner Nicholas Bognar also credited her leadership as vital to the restaurant’s success.
The Metro Edge Skating Club asked for privacy for Linehan’s loved ones as they grieve, stating that “Coach Sam will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always a part of this community.”
The investigation remains ongoing as the St. Louis community mourns the loss of a gifted athlete, devoted coach, and respected colleague whose life was cut short by violence during what should have been a simple morning coffee stop.
