A grim scene unfolded in a secluded spot of Lincoln County as a 17-year-old boy was found dead from a gunshot wound, prompting an intensive investigation by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office discovered the body on Monday evening near a wooded area by Foley River Access Area, as reported by FOX 2. The area, largely isolated, is known locally as a popular party locale, marked by signs of past bonfires and discarded alcohol containers. The limited number of nearby properties and lack of surveillance equipment poses a challenge to the investigation, according to Cpl. Tony Stewart, Major Case Squad spokesman.
The incident took a darker turn as authorities pieced together the events that led to the teenager’s death. Officials now say the 17-year-old was killed during an alleged drug deal gone wrong. Prosecutors have since charged 25-year-old Brendan Brown with first-degree murder and several other offenses, indicating that the victim was shot while reportedly trying to steal marijuana during the botched transaction. The harrowing details of the shooting were outlined in statements covered by KSDK, revealing that three shots were fired by Brown, one of which struck the teen as he fled with the drugs.
The Major Case Squad mobilized 17 investigators to handle the homicide, functioning as a force multiplier to aid the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau. “That’s what they’re here for. They’re only interviewing suspects, tracking down leads, executing search warrants for this particular homicide,” Cpl. Stewart told First Alert 4. Foley’s secluded landscape, usually an escape for revelry, now serves as a somber backdrop for this tragic tale. Witnesses in the area at the time of the shooting were able to provide initial information by calling 911, aiding investigators in locating persons of interest…