Man arrested, charges filed in Colin Brown's murder case

ST. LOUIS - One suspect has been arrested and formally charged in the murder of Colin Brown, a teenager fatally shot on I-55 last month in St. Louis while riding back from a hockey game with his father.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office filed charges Friday morning against 26-year-old Garrett Jordan, according to court documents obtained by FOX 2. Jordan was charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon in the investigation.

St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy confirmed that Jordan was arrested Thursday, the same day when FOX 2 learned of a major activity involving local police and FBI agents near the shooting scene.

"Despite the arrest and charges, it won't bring Colin back," said Tracy during a Friday news conference. "As a father myself, I pray this will bring a sense of relief and peace to Colin's family."

As of Friday, only Jordan has been formally charged in the investigation, per Missouri court records. Tracy anticipates "others will be charged" as the investigation moves forward.

Colin Brown, a 16-year-old and student of Christian Brother College High School, was struck by a stray bullet on the evening of November 23. The shooting happened on Interstate 55 near Loughborough Avenue as his family was driving home from one of his hockey games. He was hospitalized in critical condition for four days before he died from his injuries.

Investigators say Colin and his father were heading northbound on I-55 when he was struck.

According to charging documents obtained by FOX 2, another vehicle heading southbound on I-55 was shot at after the driver left from nearby Minnesota Avenue.

Police interviewed a witness who informed officers of a dark Audi vehicle parked outside a home on Minnesota Avenue.

Officers reviewed multiple surveillance videos from that night, which showed a dark Audi (as the witness described) following the driver (whose vehicle suffered ballistic damage) from Minnesota Avenue, proceeding to follow that driver that went onto I-55, then eventually returning to the home on Minnesota Avenue, per charging documents.

The investigation then led officers to a home on Minnesota Avenue where the Audi was parked. Authorities obtained information from the Audi's license plate and linked it to an address owned by one of Jordan's family members, per charging documents.

At some point, police conducted a search warrant of Jordan's phone location data. The "second-to-second movement was found to be consistent with the movement of the Audi (as captured on videos) before, during and after the shooting on I-55," charging documents read.

Jordan, when questioned by authorities amid the investigation, acknowledged ownership of the phone with the pinned location in the Audi and that he alone had possession of the phone, according to documents.

While investigating, officers discovered more than 20 cartridge casings on I-55 after the shooting that were consistent with a handgun or rifle being used and "with multiple shooters firing" at the southbound victim's vehicle, per court documents.

"It's senseless what this family is going through. It should never happen. And [Jordan] will be held accountable, and anyone else that's involved," said Tracy.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore says that prosecutors relied on video evidence from people's homes and cell phone records in connection with the charge.

"These charges were issued after an extensive investigation and really remarkable collaboration and coordination between investigative agencies," said Gore. He credited the investigative agencies of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Illinois State Police, FBI, and DEA.

Charging documents stated that Jordan was released from federal prison months on parole prior to Colin's death, though they did not explicitly identify Jordan as someone who fired shots.

Brown's family has shared this statement with FOX 2 on Friday after the latest developments in the investigation:

"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."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.