Arrest made in fatal shooting of O’Fallon hockey player in his dad’s car

An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Colin Brown, the O’Fallon teenager who was struck by a stray bullet while riding with his father on Interstate 55 in November.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police said Friday that Garrett Jordan III, 26, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and three counts of armed criminal action in connection with the shooting. Garrett had been paroled from federal prison on a weapons crime just months ago, police said.

St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy said during a news conference Friday that investigators anticipate charges against others who were involved.

“Whatever the arresting charges, it will not bring Colin back. As a father myself, I want to express my condolences to the Brown family,” Tracy said.

A coordinated investigation by St. Louis Metropolitan Police, St. Louis County Police, the FBI and Illinois State Police remains ongoing.

“There are some details we just cannot release at this time,” said Mitch McCoy, a representative of the St. Louis Police Department.

Colin resided with his family in O’Fallon, but was a student and varsity hockey player at Christian Brothers College High School in Town and Country, Missouri. He also played with the Affton Americans hockey club in Affton, Missouri, and formerly was a junior varsity player with O’Fallon Ice Hockey Club.

The shooting occurred late on Nov. 23 night while he and his father, Calvin Brown, a retired lieutenant colonel with the Illinois State Police, were returning from a hockey game. Colin Brown was transported to a St. Louis hospital where he died six days later.

According to court documents:

• A stray bullet struck Colin as his family’s vehicle was traveling northbound on Interstate 55 in the area of Loughborough Avenue in South St. Louis.
• His father, Calvin Brown was driving the vehicle.
• Brown notified law enforcement, which met him at the intersection of Fourth and Walnut in downtown St. Louis.
• From there, EMS rushed Colin to the hospital, where he remained in critical condition.
• Police closed Interstate 55 on two nights and recovered evidence of a shooting both times, including 20 cartridge casings belonging to a handgun and a rifle.

A probable cause statement filed Friday states a person who was going south on I-55 at the time when Brown was shot told police his car was also was struck by gunfire. He said he had just entered I-55 after he left a home on Minnesota Avenue. Police have processed ballistic damage to the car. The driver of the southbound car is identified in court records as Victim 2.

“The evidence seized would be consistent with multiple shooters firing on Victim 2’s car,” the statement says.

According to the probable cause statement, witnesses reported to police spotting a “dark Audi” parked on Minnesota Avenue near the scene of the shooting. Surveillance video also captured the Audi going onto I-55 and returning to the Minnesota Avenue parking space following the shooting.

Police say Jordan had been a resident of Minnesota Avenue and data from his cellphone was consistent with the path the Audi traveled on Nov. 23. Police were able to use the license plate on the Audi to locate Jordan, who admitted that the phone had been in his sole possession at the time of the shooting.

Investigators put out a call to residents in the area of the shooting to check their doorbell cameras and other home security devises for anything that looked unusual.

“Certainly, such evidence was useful in the investigation,” said St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore.

Associate Circuit Judge Catherine A. Dierker said no bond would be allowed for Jordan, according to court records.

Brown’s family issued the following statement following the announcement of the charges against Garrett:

“We are thankful for the tireless efforts of the SLMPD, FBI, St. Louis County, Illinois State Police in working on this case and getting it to this point. Additionally, we would like to thank the prosecutor’s office and all the other law enforcement agencies not mentioned who dedicated resources and worked countless hours on behalf of our son, Colin. While there is still much to do before this case is closed, we are confident the effort shown will continue. Hopefully, this shows that senseless violence such as this that took Colin from us all can not be committed without consequence. Again, thank you to law enforcement and the community for coming forward to assist.”

Back in O’Fallon, friends and members of the larger St. Louis hockey community held candlelight vigils at the McKendree MetroRecPlex.

This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 1:21 PM.