A tight-knit skating community in Missouri is mourning after former Team USA skater Gabrielle "Sam" Linehan was shot and killed Tuesday morning in what police say was a brazen armed robbery at a Starbucks drive-thru in St. Louis.
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Linehan, 28, was sitting in her car in the Tower Grove East neighborhood just after 10 a.m. when a man approached her vehicle, ordered her to raise her hands and opened fire, according to a probable cause statement. She was transported to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.
Police have arrested 58-year-old Keith Lamon Brown in connection with the shooting. He faces first-degree murder and multiple robbery and weapons charges. Authorities say he was already wanted in two other armed robberies days earlier and has a criminal history stretching back decades.
Instagram/Saint Louis Synergy
Linehan was a respected coach in Webster Groves and a former member of St. Louis Synergy, earning silver at the 2014 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. In a statement, the team called her a cherished mentor who led with discipline, integrity and heart.
Investigators allege Brown stole bank cards and identification before fleeing. He is being held without bond as the case moves forward.
For many in the skating world, the focus now is on honoring Linehan's life and supporting her family.
