Shooting leaves beloved St. Paul hockey coach dead
Updated: May 10, 7:55 p.m. | Posted: May 7, 4 p.m.
A man shot and killed in St. Paul on Saturday has been identified as Michael Scott Brasel by his wife and a hockey team in Roseville he coached.
The shooting happened in the 2300 block of Chillcombe Avenue in the St. Anthony Park, Minn. neighborhood.
When St. Paul police officers arrived around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, they found a man had been shot.
He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Police believe Brasel may have interrupted a crime in progress in the neighborhood when he was shot. His wife said he was stopping a potential thief from breaking into her car.
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A statement from his family said Brasel was “an amazing father, husband and friend … When you were loved by Michael, it was never loud and flashy, but it was always genuine and true.”
The family called him passionate for his family and friends, as well as reliable, loyal and hardworking. He loved art, automobiles, music and hockey.
“Our hearts are broken and our world has been turned upside down by the senseless act that tragically took Michael's life in the front yard of our home. We are grieving his loss in the here and now, but are also deeply saddened by the fact he won't experience the future moments and milestones with his family that he loved so much,” it read.
The family expressed gratitude for support from sports families, neighbors, friends and family.
Call the St. Paul Police Department Homicide Unit at (651) 266-5650 with any information.
“Never thought I would wake up to 3 gunshots all of which hit Michael in the chest. Never thought I would have to try to revive my husband with CPR while my boys are calling 911 and watched,” wrote Hilary Brasel in a Facebook post. “Never thought we would have to ride in a squad car to help SPPD investigators find his killers.”
Investigators are looking for any surveillance video that could have captured the incident.
“He had the best sense of humor, giant love for his boys, and ever giving spirit to help out those around him,” Hillary Brasel wrote. “He loved to coach hockey for both the Roseville and Langford Park Youth Hockey Programs over the past 7 years.”
In a social media post, the Roseville team said Brasel had an infectious spirit and “was a devoted coach who inspired and encouraged countless young athletes to achieve their full potential.”
St. Paul police said Wednesday they arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the shooting. The teen is jailed on suspicion of second-degree murder and is expected to face charges in Ramsey County Juvenile Court.