16-Year-Old Hockey Player Colin Brown Dies Days After Being Struck By A Stray Bullet

The death of anyone is a tragedy but when it is a child, it is especially difficult to handle. Unfortunately, we have news to share and it has affected many in the community and elsewhere.

A 16-year-old hockey player, Colin Brown, died after being shot on Interstate 55 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was struck by a stray bullet and passed away within a few days.

It happened on November 23 when the teen was riding home with his father after a hockey game. They were heading home from the Affton Ice rink at around 10:30 PM on the interstate near the area of Bates and Loughborough. Police feel that stray bullet struck the lad.

After the shooting, Brown’s father drove to Walnut Street and Broadway in St. Louis and called the police. Lily Paniucki, who was in St. Louis downtown for a birthday party said she and her friend heard his father crying for help.

They had rented a party bus to hit the bars downtown and at one point, Paniucki and the friend, who heard the shouting, decided that they would stay on the bus while the others went out to celebrate the birthday.

Paniucki said: “On our way back from a gas station we had stopped at a light and we heard somebody screaming for help.”

They told the bus driver that they wanted to get off to see what was happening. She went on to say: “I jumped out and we came up to this guy standing outside the passenger seat and another guy sitting in the passenger seat and he was holding his neck and he said, ‘my [sic] son has just been shot.”

Paniucki, who is an EMT was there to assist. She said: “I could see he was applying pressure to a wound in the front of his neck. I couldn’t find a pulse so I knew we needed to start CPR immediately.”

They then lifted him out of the passenger seat and put him on the sidewalk to give CPR. The father gave his son breaths along with her giving compressions.

After about 10 minutes of giving CPR, a bystander approached to assist. An ambulance arrived after another 10 minutes.

Paniucki looked back at the situation, saying: “Hearing somebody scream for help like that, there was no time to sit and worry or second guess myself. I kicked right into action and it all just came to me.”

Brown stayed at the hospital while he was fighting for his life.

Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead on November 27. A St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman announced his death in a press conference.

The spokesperson said: “It is with a heavy heart — I share with you that 16-year-old Colin Brown has died after being shot by a stray bullet Saturday night on I-55.” He went on to say that Brown’s organs were donated.

The family also provided a statement, saying: “We just hope the silver lining from this senseless tragedy is that it gives someone else the chance at life. Colin was a helper and who wanted to be a doctor [sic]. So in a small way his ‘gifts of life’ allow him to be the healer he was destined to be.”

Homicide detectives were still busy following up on tips they had received. They also have a new video, which they are reviewing for details that could give additional clues into the case.

They are asking for any civilians who live in the area of Loughborough Avenue and I-55 to review security camera footage for anything that may help. Specifically, they need information between 10:30 and 10:45 PM.

So far, no potential suspect information has been released in the shooting case. They did make it clear: “This type of disregard for human life will not be tolerated in this city or this region.”

After Brown’s death, a number of organizations and individuals are offering tributes. This includes the coach of Affton Americans U16 CSDHL, Bob Jakubeck. He said: “Brownie didn’t die today, he was born into Heaven today. He’s the kind of kid that doesn’t have to say much but when he does, people listen. Brownie’s not with us in person, but Brownie is with us.”

Another message came in from the Christian Brothers College High School, where he played hockey.

More came in from the school on Facebook.

We hope that they are able to get the information they need and that the family is able to find peace during this difficult time.

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