Teen admits to killing hockey coach protecting wife’s car from a break-in

A teenager has admitted to the fatal shooting of a beloved hockey coach who was simply trying to protect his wife’s car from a break-in outside their Minnesota home in May.

Kle Swee, 17, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree intentional murder and agreed to be sentenced as an adult in the death of 44-year-old Michael Brasel, a father of two.

He faces up to 25 and a half years behind bars.

In a Facebook post following the guilty plea, Brasel’s widow, Hilary, wrote that she and their children are “one step closer to justice for Michael.”

As if speaking directly to her late husband, she said, “You should be here to see all the magic your boys are experiencing and creating in your honor.

“We miss you so much each and every day,” Hilary continued. “Love you to the super moon and back tonight! #CoachBraselLivesOn #Michael44ever.”

Ramsey County authorities have alleged in a probable cause document that Swee and co-defendant Ta Mla, 18, were driving through the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul the morning of May 6 when they spotted Hilary’s SUV outside their home.

Mla later allegedly told police he was going through the SUV looking for a phone charger when Brasel came out of the house and grabbed Mla from behind.

As lookout, Swee fired three bullets into Brasel’s chest, before the two teenagers got back in Swee’s car and drove away before Hilary found her husband bleeding in the front yard and called 911.

Mla said Swee had confided in him after that he felt bad about the shooting, saying, “My bad, bro. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

But as the teenagers made their getaway, a bumper with a license plate fell off Swee’s vehicle, and he was arrested five days later. 

Cellphone data also put both teenagers near the location of the shooting that morning.

Swee had previously been convicted as a juvenile of aggravated robbery after he was caught on camera in April 2022 holding a firearm similar to the one used to shoot and kill Brasel at Harding High School as he robbed a student.

He pleaded guilty in that case as well, and was put on probation — which ended in January.

Brasel was remembered by the community in the aftermath for his work as a youth hockey coach.

An obituary posted online said he “loved playing on multiple ‘old man’ hockey teams and coaching hockey for multiple youth hockey teams over the last seven years.

“Hockey was his way to connect with his own boys to help grow their skills and confidence, along with an endless list of other young players who loved him as a coach,” it said.

“The love that he shared with his parents, siblings, extended family and close friends was always full of humor, joy and the idea that he was always there for you no matter what.” 

Hilary also said at the time she was “so honored to have shared my life with this amazing man for 23 years,” describing her husband as “one in a million.”