ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – The St. Louis figure skating community continues to grieve one of its own, after a beloved coach was killed in a random shooting Tuesday in South St. Louis.
St. Louis police said Sam Linehan, 28, was shot and killed while sitting in their car in the Starbucks drive-thru on South Grand Boulevard.
Keith Brown, 58, is charged with first-degree murder in Linehan’s death. Police said the shooting appears to be random.
Linehan was a staple of the St. Louis skating community, serving as a coach within the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club.
Jamie Mathews Schieler remembers some of Linehan’s first skating lessons as a young child.
“The first time she stepped on the ice, those classes, I was there,” said Schieler. “She was a great student and one of the funniest people on the planet.”
Over the years, Linehan continued to skate, winning the silver medal at the 2014 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships.
“She never took life too seriously and just mad everyone laugh,” said Schieler. “It was a joy to watch Sam grow and evolve into a coach.”
Most recently, Schieler said, Sam coached kids ranging in age from five to sixteen with various St. Louis Synergy Synchronized teams.
“Sam gave those kids everything she has and she did,” said Ashley Klotz, Sam’s friend and fellow skater. “I think the world is missing out on somebody that cared as much as Sam did about all of those kids.”
Linehan’s former coach and friends said they were horrified to learn of her death, initially not believing the news.
“She was starting her day and getting coffee at Starbucks,” said Mathews Schieler. “It’s just the unfortunate horrific situation of wrong place, wrong time. It’s heartbreaking.”
Linehan’s students, along with fellow teachers and friends continue to grapple with the loss as they navigate their grief.
“I’m angry and confused as to why something like this happened,” said Abbie Brown, a friend of Sam’s and fellow skater. “And why it happened to somebody that’s so important to so many people.”
Mathews Schieler says in addition to carrying Sam’s legacy in the rink, she’s determined to teach her skaters a lesson outside of it.
“I feel like it’s my responsibility to tell them to be aware of your surroundings at all times and have an exit plan,” she said.
Brown remains jailed as he awaits his next court date. Police said he is suspected in two other armed robberies in the days leading up to Linehan’s death. He is a convicted felon after previously serving prison time. Brown was wanted for parole violations at the time of his arrest.
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