Roach Pleads Guilty in Colin Brown Shooting
James Roach admitted to second-degree murder in the death of Colin Brown, who was struck by a stray bullet on Interstate 55 in 2024.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Crime — General
James Roach pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of Colin Brown, who was hit by an apparent stray bullet on Interstate 55 near Loughborough and Bates on November 23, 2024. Brown died from his injuries on November 27, 2024.
Why it matters
The plea resolves one defendant's charges in a case involving multiple suspects, with prosecutors saying both sides agreed to a life-in-prison sentence. Co-defendants have also entered guilty pleas, while another suspect will proceed to trial.
James Roach's sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2027, with prosecutors saying both parties agreed to a life-in-prison sentence. Diamond Baucom and Donovan Baucom pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and three counts of armed criminal action under an agreement with the prosecutor's office.
The players
James Roach
James Roach is a defendant who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of Colin Brown.
Garrett Jordan
Garrett Jordan is a defendant facing first-degree murder and related charges who declined to plead guilty and will go to trial.
The details
Colin Brown was driving home with his father from a hockey game when he was struck on Interstate 55 near Loughborough and Bates. The Baucom pleas were entered as part of an agreement with the prosecutor's office, while Garrett Jordan declined to plead and will go to trial.
Timeline
November 23, 2024: Colin Brown was struck by a stray bullet on Interstate 55.
November 27, 2024: Colin Brown died from his injuries.
Mid-October 2026: Garrett Jordan declined to plead guilty at his plea hearing.
November 4, 2026: James Roach pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
February 18, 2027: Sentencing for James Roach is scheduled.
Legal Context
The Baucom guilty pleas were entered under an agreement with the prosecutor's office, a common mechanism for resolving multi-defendant cases before trial. Roach's agreed life sentence and Jordan's decision to go to trial illustrate how defendants in the same case can take different paths.
Drivers on Interstate 55 near Loughborough and Bates have a case that highlights the risk of stray gunfire on busy highways. The prosecution's plea resolutions and the scheduled sentencing give the St. Louis public a clearer picture of how the case is progressing through the courts.
The takeaway
Multi-defendant cases can resolve on different timelines, so a sentencing date for one defendant does not signal the outcome for co-defendants. Following court dates is the most reliable way to track a case's progress.
What happens next
James Roach's sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2027.
Further reading
For more on related court developments, see Crime — General coverage in St. Louis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Firstalert4.
