St. Louis mom says Starbucks murder suspect robbed her days earlier at another drive-thru – KSDK

ST. LOUIS — Fifty-eight-year-old Keith Brown is behind bars, facing several charges, including first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and robbery. 

Investigators said he’s accused of three separate crimes in the days leading up to the shooting at a Starbucks on South Grand that took the life of Sam Linehan. Each crime was on Grand Boulevard.

A woman robbed at a drive-thru last week believes the same man who robbed her, went on to kill Linehan at the Starbucks.

The woman isn’t afraid to speak up, but asked 5 On Your Side not to use her name or show her face. She was with her 10-year-old daughter when this robbery happened at the Jack in the Box.

“I was picking my baby up from school and we went to go grab something to eat. Wasn’t nobody in the line. It was just me. I ordered and I went around to the window and I paid. He handed me our drinks. I’m turning over looking at my child so she can grab her drink,” shared the mom.

That’s when she felt a gun pressed against the back of her head.

“It a a big black gun, it looked like an AR, but I might be saying the wrong name of the gun, but that’s how it looked,” she recalled.

A man, now known as 58-year-old Keith Brown, is suspected of running up on her driver’s side.

“(He said) ‘Give me everything you got.’ I looked, see the gun first. I looked up. I see the vest. I looked in his face,” she noted. 

She said he threw her drink at her and demanded her items. 

To avoid getting shot, she handed over her purse with a gun inside along with their phones, too.

“He walked off. The lady from Jack in the Box ran out, yelling, ‘Give her all her stuff back! Give her all her stuff back!’ So I got out, and we started running toward him. That’s when he shot in the air. I ran back to my car. At that point, I was just going off instinct because I was trying to get to him, but I couldn’t find him,” she shared.

She said it all happened so fast. She tried to comfort her shaken up daughter as best she could.

She wonders if they were targeted.

“That’s what it feels like it’s nothing but women. Nothing but women,” added the mom.

Days later, she recognized Brown from surveillance pictures. She learned Brown was accused of robbing a Dollar General on North Grand two days later. Police said Brown also discharged his gun at the scene. 

She was devastated to hear about the Starbucks killing on Tuesday. 

“My condolences. I hate that happened to her. I just wish the message would have got out before,” she added. 

The mother believes her daughter helped simply by being there.

“I truly feel like she saved me,” she said.

5 On Your Side reporter Justina Coronel asked how she felt when she found out he had been arrested.

“Oh baby, I was dancing when I heard that. I was dancing. I am relieved. I’m very relieved, he should have been in there,” she added. 

St. Louis police said the suspect wore a bright construction vest at the three different robberies.

Here’s what police told reporters on why they didn’t issue an alert earlier.

“We did not know that there was a pattern with this person until after the shooting occurred at the Starbucks,” said Director of Public Affairs and Information Mitch McCoy. 

On Thursday, St. Louis police released this statement:

“Any loss of life is tragic — and our thoughts remain with the victim’s loved ones as they navigate an unimaginable loss. Since Friday, our investigators have worked diligently to gather facts, analyze evidence and follow every available lead. Information can evolve as additional forensic results are received, surveillance video is reviewed, witnesses are interviewed, and investigative connections are confirmed. The SLMPD understands the public’s concerns — and the safety of our community is the top priority while monitoring for potential patterns and taking investigative steps methodically and responsibly. Our investigation remains active and ongoing.”

5 On Your Side sat down with Mayor Cara Spencer, too.

Spencer, who has lived in Tower Grove East for many years, said the crime hits close to home.

Spencer noted, “No one should have to fear for their life as they’re going about their daily business, going around the city, and certainly buying a coffee.”

She called this crime a tragic and horrifying situation.

“This particular incident, had he been apprehended sooner, could have been prevented. That being said, I don’t have the specifics leading up to that. Again, I think it’s extremely gratifying to know that he was arrested pretty immediately following this event.” added Spencer. 

She sent a message to violent offenders. 

“The police department sent a clear message by making that arrest and doing it swiftly, and so, you know our police department is continuing to be vigilant. They’ll be out in full force this weekend ensuring that residents and visitor alike are safe at Mardi Gras,” Spencer shared. 

For the Jack in the Box victim, she believes a life could’ve possibly been saved.

“I think they should have said something the first time when it happened, you know, they should have been said something the first time. Y’all should have put it out there, ‘We looking for this, because this lady and her child got robbed.’ Y’all wait till another incident happened, then, a killing. Now y’all wanna say something. That’s crazy to me,” she said. 

5 On Your Side reporter Justina Coronel asked the woman if she had a message for Brown.

She responded, “God got him. God take care, took care of that. I don’t have nothing else to say… I hated he did it because you traumatized my child.”

5 On Your Side learned Brown is a convicted felon. 

According to public court records, Brown pleaded guilty in 1986 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, and armed criminal action.

Then in 1996, a jury found him guilty for first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to 30 years. 

A spokesperson with the Missouri department of corrections said Brown was released on July 24, 2020. 

The DOC spokesperson shared, “The Missouri Parole Board operates separately from the Missouri Department of Corrections and determines whether someone will be released on parole, so I’m not able to comment on parole decisions. A warrant was issued Tuesday, and a detainer was filed yesterday.”

Court documents reveal Brown was an absconder on parole. 

An absconder is an individual, typically a probationer or parolee, who intentionally avoids legal supervision by disappearing, changing residence without authorization, or failing to report to authorities.

St. Louis police told 5 On Your Side they were not notified by the suspect’s parole officer that he needed to be located before the recent crimes.

It’s unclear when Brown violated parole. 5 On Your Side reached out to the Missouri Division of Probation and Parole for more details.

For now, Brown remains in jail without bond.