A second person charged with murder in shooting of O’Fallon hockey player

St. Louis police said Wednesday a second person has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with 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 last month.

Along with the murder charge, Donovan M. Baucom, 28, faces three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon/shooting from a motor vehicle, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and court records.

The probable cause statement filed Wednesday against Baucom alleges he told police that Garrett Jordan III, 26, “fired shots during the shooting with a rifle.”

Jordan was charged last week with the same charges as Baucom: first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and three counts of armed criminal action.

Baucom also told police he was driving an Audi used during the I-55 shooting that resulted in Colin’s death, according to the probable cause statement.

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 and going north on I-55 in St. Louis. Colin Brown was transported to a St. Louis hospital where he died six days later.

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

According to the probable cause statement for Jordan, 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.

The complaint against Baucom alleges “the defendant, either acting alone or knowing in concert with another or others, knowingly discharged a firearm from an Audi, a motor vehicle, and, as a result of the above described conduct, Victim 1 suffered injury or death.”

“Victim 1” is Colin Brown.

Baucom’s sister told police she gave the Audi to Baucom on the day of Colin’s death and he returned it to her home shortly after the homicide occurred, according to the probable cause statement filed against Baucom.

Court records show Baucom’s historical phone data places him with Jordan throughout Nov. 23. Also, the records state data from Jordan’s cellphone was consistent with the path the Audi traveled on the night Colin was shot.

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.

Baucom was arrested Tuesday by St. Louis police officers with assistance from the St. Louis County Police Department.

Baucom was denied bond Wednesday and a judge ordered that he be transferred to the St. Charles Justice Center. Before being transferred, Baucom must be held in “protective custody,” according to court records.

“This investigation remains ongoing and active,” a police statement said.

Anyone with information about this homicide and wants to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).

This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 11:54 AM.