BALTIMORE – An off-duty Washington, D.C. police sergeant was murdered in West Baltimore early Saturday. He was killed and a woman was wounded in a shooting in the city, Baltimore police say.
The crime occurred about 12:45 a.m. when officers were called to the 2800 block of Elgin Ave. in the Panway/Braddish Avenue neighborhood for a report of a shooting, police said. When they arrived, they found two shooting victims, reported The Baltimore Sun.
The first victim, Tony Anthony Mason Jr., 40, was found with gunshot wounds to his body, according to police. Mason is a sergeant with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington and was off duty when the shooting occurred. The D.C. Police Union could not immediately be reached for comment.
Mason was transported to an area hospital where he passed away from his injuries.
The second victim, a 43-year-old unnamed woman, was found with a gunshot wound to her leg, police said. As a result, she was also transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Consequently, police said investigators believe the victims were inside a parked car when an unknown suspect approached the vehicle and began shooting. The suspect was able to flee undetected, police said.
The Metropolitan Police Department said Mason was a 17-year veteran of the agency.
David Simonetti, the director of the police academy at Hagerstown Community College, said he worked with Mason in D.C. from 2004 to 2009. He said Mason worked in the 6th District vice unit at that time.
Of particular note is this tragic shooting occurred during Baltimore's self-imposed "cease fire." Perhaps this is a reminder that killers do not pay attention to rules, laws, or well-intentioned campaigns to decrease violence.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup. You can also text tips to 443-902-4824.
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