A man convicted of trying to kill a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy during a 2022 traffic stop in Rancho Cucamonga has been sentenced to six years plus 55 years to life in state prison. Nicholas Campbell was sentenced for shooting Deputy Marcus Mason multiple times while Mason was responding to a call for service, a shooting that left the deputy critically wounded.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
announced the sentencing in a release dated Friday, November 6; its X post appeared just after midnight Saturday, November 7. According to the department, Mason was wounded so severely that he nearly lost his life, and he survived with the help of fellow deputies and medical personnel who responded to the scene.
Details of exactly when the shooting occurred have varied across accounts. A San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office document states that sheriff's dispatch received a call for service about a suspicious vehicle in the 5700 block of Sycamore Court in Rancho Cucamonga on July 16, 2022, while the Daily Bulletin reported that Mason was shot while investigating a suspicious vehicle on July 17, 2022. The Daily Bulletin's account, published weeks after the shooting, said Mason was struck by four bullets in that same block of Sycamore Court — his vest and gun belt stopped two rounds, but two others pierced his stomach.
A Long Road to Recovery
In the weeks after the shooting, the Daily Bulletin reported that Mason had just left an inpatient rehabilitation facility at Loma Linda University Medical Center and was headed home to continue recovering. At the time, the outlet reported that doctors expected the deputy would eventually return to patrol, and that Mason himself said he wanted to return to the job “as quick as my body will allow me to.”
Mason continued his recovery from the injuries he sustained that night. His family attended Campbell's sentencing.
Jury Verdict and Sentence
A San Bernardino County jury found Campbell guilty on October 2 of three counts, including attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a firearm by a felon, and assault with a semiautomatic firearm, according to the District Attorney's Office. The office's release states Campbell was then sentenced to six years plus 55 years to life in state prison for the attempted murder of Deputy Mason.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus addressed the sentencing directly in the department's statement. “Marcus was doing his job, protecting the community he swore to serve, when his life was forever changed. I am grateful that justice has been served. I commend Marcus and Katie for their strength and courage throughout this difficult journey. I also thank the prosecut,” Dicus said, according to the department's statement.
Department Says It Won't Be Deterred
The Sheriff's Department said the sentencing brings accountability and a measure of justice for the attempted murder of a peace officer, and reiterated that it remains dedicated to serving its communities and supporting law enforcement personnel. The department also said violence against law enforcement will not diminish its commitment to public safety.
The Sheriff's Department, headquartered at 655 E. 3rd St. in San Bernardino, lists 909-387-3700 as its Public Affairs contact. Residents are asked to call 9-1-1 for emergencies.
