After a prolonged manhunt spanning over seven years, an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of an off-duty D.C. police officer in Baltimore. Sources close to the investigation informed News4 that an update on the long-unsolved case involving Sgt. Tony Mason Jr., who was gunned down in November 2017, would be pending. News4 reports that officials were poised to share developments this afternoon.
Baltimore and D.C. police departments were slated to hold a joint press conference at 1:30 p.m. with DC Police Chief Pamela Smith among the attendees where the breakthrough in the case, which cast a long-standing mystery over both cities, would be detailed. The Baltimore Banner reported that the agencies will disclose information concerning the arrest at the briefing. Responding to a call in the 2800 block of Elgin Avenue in the early morning hours, officers found Mason suffering from gunshot wounds while seated in a parked car, alongside a woman who was shot in the leg.
Tragically, 40-year-old Sgt. Mason, a veteran with 17 years on the force, succumbed to his injuries following the shooting incident. The unknown assailant fired upon Mason and a 43-year-old woman before fleeing the scene, a narrative WUSA9 echoes, sparking an exhaustive search which persisted for years.
Sgt. Mason, remembered fondly as a dedicated officer who enjoyed serving Washington D.C., was also a former Marine and a father of three. "He wanted to go out and give back and do the things that he thought he should be doing as a young man," James Grayton, Mason's cousin, lamented in a 2017 interview with WJZ. "He enjoyed being a police officer. He loved the city of Washington D.C., and he enjoyed being a police officer and he appreciated life to the fullest." Agencies trying to attract tips offered up to $60,000 by 2018, but it is unclear whether this led directly to the arrest, as per CBS News Baltimore.
The memory of Sgt. Mason and the persistence of law enforcement over the years underscore the commitment to seeking justice, regardless of how long it takes. As details emerge following the scheduled press conference, the communities Mason served both in uniform and as a citizen may find a moment of closure in this harrowing chapter of their local history.
